'We should not do anything- except imagine. When I .say that, most PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SCOnSDALE SEVILLE people ask, "Can't we,do something The legacy of Lennon more than imagine?" Scottsdale Sevi.lle exhibit reveals artistic talents of Beatles member

However, imagine BY AMY ABRAMS I FOR SUNDAY ARTS SEE IT is avery strong ohn Lennon was an artist of many talents. Twenty-one years What: The Art of John Lennon after his untimely death, his legend e, ndures through his music and art. Many fans are surprised to learn that the famed BeatIe Where: The Scottsdale Seville, thing to do. We J 7001 N. Scottsdale Road (at began drawing long before he owned a guitar and attended the Indian Bend Road) can visualize all prestigious Liverpool Art Institute for three years (1957-1960). When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday people living in A major exhibition of Lennon's and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. artwork will be showcased at the VISUAL ARTS March 3 Scottsdale Seville Friday through March , > peace.' 3, featuring limited-edition prints of How much: Free his drawings as well as limited-edition life with Yoko Ono and their son, Sean. Info: (800) 778-9988 - YokoOno prints of original handwritten lyrics to Indeed, a portfolio of the drawings his music. (titled "Bag One") was presented to Ono Viewing Lennon's drawings is like by Lennon in 1969 as a wedding gift. paging through his personal diary, as they reveal the intimate details of his See LENNON on next page

mother and child by Allan Houser. Through Brian Blackham (Duley-Jones Gallery, 7100 landscape photographs ofthe 'Southwest. EAST VALLEY EXH IBITS March 21. Free. E. Main St., Scottsdale, [480] 945-8475). Still­Through Thu. Free. life paintings of simple everyday objects Agnese Udinotti: Painting, Sculpture, Art After Forty (Outlooks Unlimited, 2920 that explore the contrast of light and dark. Desert Rumination (RezLirrection Gallery, Ceramic (Udinotti Gallery, 4215 N. Marshall E. University Drive, Suite 113, Mesa, [480] Through April. Free. 601 W. University Drive, Tempe, [480] Way, Scottsdale, [480] 946-7056). Haunting 833-2833). Watercolor paintings by local 377-9080). Arizona scenes, flora and fauna dreamlike figures expressionistic in mode artist Laurie Milliron. Ongoing. Free. Charles Pabst (Charles H. Pabst Gallery, by painter Melissa Martinez~ Through March with a strong touch of lyricism. Through 7021 E. Main St., Scottsdale, [480] 874-4780). 6. Free. Thu. Free. Brett Weston and Randy Efron: Mentor Original oil paintings oftheSouthwest. and Apprentice (Amore Mills Gallery, 7116 Ongoing. Free. Explorations in Form and Matter Anthology of Mother and Child (Figarelli E". First Ave., Scottsdale, [480] 421-6644). (Asietique, 7045 E. Third Way, Scottsdale, Fine Art, 7610 E. McDonald Drive, Photographs by the master Brett Weston Dale Kesel (Vision Gallery, 80 S. San Marcos [480] 421-1818). Arizona artists Jerry Gluck Scottsdale, [480] 609-7077). Sculpture of . and his apprentice. Through March 28. Place, Chandler, [480] 917-6859). Striking and James Peters will display their '

4 I SUNDAY ARTS I FEBRUARY 24, 2002 I ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EAST VALLEY our family togetherness, and all that was LENNON very difficult for me. But now I think of it from previous page as positive. At least we had that here." Lennon's drawings reveal the strong Images include their wedding ceremony, bond he had with his family, and honeymoon and the famous "bed-in" for his portraits capture the essence of peace. The full set of drawings is part of his subjects. Ono is portrayed with the permanent collection of the Museum her wide, floppy-brimmed hat and her of Modern Art in New York. oversize, round sunglasses on her petite "When I received the drawings from frame. Lennon's self-portrait is uncannily john, I thought they were very accurate. With a few quick beautiful," Yoko Ono says by 'At the beginning, lines, he captures his own phone from her home/office at putting on these persona with Signature glasses the famed Dakota building on and long, shaggy hair. The New York's Upper West Side. shows of John's portraits are whimsical, and The locale was the scene of yet reveal his fierce love and Lennon and Ono's life together drawings was hard admiration for Ono. as well as the location of Lennon documented their Lennon's tragic death. It was for me. It was a wedding by sketching their directly outside the building reminder of our private ceremony before the that Lennon was shot and killed judge. "Our wedding was not on Dec. 8, 1980. family togetherness, totally spontaneous or totally ------.--~~------~------"The drawings are very planned," Ono says. "We personal," Ono says. "I didn't and all that was very knew we wanted to make it understand, at the time, the difficult for me. But a private event. John wanted impact it would create in the to get married on the boat world." Ono is referencing the now Ithink ofit as from Southampton to France first exhibition of the drawings, - he thought that would which included erotic images, at positive. At least we be very romantic - but it the London Art Gallery in 1970. had that here.' no longer sailed. So we went After one day, Scotland Yard on our honeymoon to Paris not able to be home and spend time with closed the show and the erotic Yoko Dna anyway, and then went to Julian. lithographs were confiscated. Gibraltar to get married. And "When Sean was born, john truly "At the time, Picasso was then we went back to Paris for the rest of became the house husband and Yoko ran displaying erotic drawings, but not our honeymoon. the business. What is so tragic is that accused," Ono says. "Because it was john, "John had this idea that we should get Sean was just 5 when John was killed." those kinds of things happened." married in all religions and in all the Lennon's death shook the world. "It "At the beginning, putting on these countries we visited," Ono says, laughing. was a worldwide event," Ono says. "I shows of John's drawings was hard for "I said to him, 'We could be doing that knew that was going on - on a me," Ono admits. "It was a reminder of all our lives. No, we have better things to peripheral level - and I thought I better do, dear.' " take care of the fans. For me, it was a very "Then, we had the 'bed-in,' " private thing that happened. My body , continues Ono, referring to the was shaking and I literally had a difficult legendary week the couple spent time walking." together in bed as a plea for Today, Ono can cast her gaze, from peace, holding press conferences her apartment window, over New York's at the Amsterdam Hilton. "We Central Park's "Strawberry Fields" - the 1~\ ~~ chose Amsterdam because, at city'S memorial to Lennon. She muses the time, there was an active on the more recent tragic events in New movement in Amsterdam - it York on Sept. 11: "These are dark times, was a hip place. And, oh yes, yet we still have to make things better, .. ¥ and I think we will." because all the other hotels said no," Ono says. Ono references Lennon's legendary Lennon's hand-written lyrics to In 1975, their son Sean was song "Imagine" (the lyrics were recently "Imagine." born and Lennon captured found in Tokyo and will be showcased many of the family's day-to-day at the Scottsdale show): "We should activities in his sketchbook. not do anything except imagine. When Richard Horowitz, curator of I say that, most people ask, 'Can't l ' the exhibition, says "John had we do something more than imagine?' "'rr rf i an incredibly close relationship However, imagine is a very strong thing with Sean. In some ways, he to do. was trying to rewrite his part "We can visualize all people living in as father. When his older son, peace." Julian, from his first marriage, was born, it was just when the Writer Amy Abrams can be reached at Beatles were taking off. He was [email protected].

sculptures. Through Thu, Free, Galleries, 7130 E. Main St., Scottsdale, [480] Many Faces, One Spirit (Gammage Gallery, ASU campus, Tyler and Forest malls, 941-2494). Bold contemporary paintings by Auditorium, Mill Avenue and Apache Tempe, [480]965-8495). Photographs by Gloria Gaddis (Chiaroscuro Gallery, 7160 Cuban artist Paul Sierra. Ongoing. Free. Boulevard, Tempe, [480] 965-4050). A nine artists from the Southwest. Through Main St., Scottsdale, [480]429-0713). Oil portrait study ofthe Jewish community of 'March 5. Free. abstract paintings with luminous colors. In Loving Memory (Wilde Meyer Gallery, the Southwest by local photographer Susan Through March 12. Free. 4142 I\J. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, [480] Frank, Through March 17. Free. Permanent Collection: Loans, 945-2323). Vibrant paintings of animals by Acquisitions and Gifts (ASU Nelson Fine Icons (Bishop Gallery, 7164 E. Main St., Ron Burns. Through Thu. Free. Morgan Weistling (Trailside Gallery, 7330 Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill Avenue, Scottsdale, [480]949-9062). Collections of Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale, [480] 945-7751). Tempe, [480] 965-2787). A revolving 18th- and 19th-century Russian Christian John Tuomisto-Bell (g2 Gallery, 4200 N. 15 oil figurative and still-life paintings. Mon. exhibition of items from the museum's own icons and Judaica. Ongoing. Free. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, [480]429-7729). through Thu. Free. contemporary collection and items on loan, Primitive, figurative sculptures in bronze. including works by Cindy Sherman, Leon Images From the Mind (Victoria Boyce Through Sat. Free. Northlight Southwest 2002 (North light Golub and Andy Warhol. Ongoing. Free.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EAST VALLEY I FEBRUARY 24, 2002 I SU NDAY ARTS I 5