Ono? Oh, yeah: At 76, Yoko has a new album & is exhibiting John's art

Almost 29 years have passed since an assassin's bullet took John Lennon. And it's been 17 years since Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, first curated and sent out "We All Shine On," a touring exhibit of Lennon's artwork that offers a "look into his mind."

Created in his post-Beatles years living with Ono and their son, Sean, the work has a quick, sketchy nature that seems both innocent and true.

Done with pen and black ink, with some drawings later washed in color by Ono, the art occasionally reflects darkly on John's self-image and sense of isolation. More often it seems quite whimsical, especially in a series of animal drawings created to entertain Sean. And in its most powerful moments, the work celebrates, as did his latter-period music, universal themes like the purity of love ("Two Virgins"), the joys of parenthood ("Beautiful Boy") and our purpose in the big scheme - to not just "Imagine" a better world but also to seize the moment and effect change, with "Power to the People."

Only one or two new pieces are added each year to the 100-piece touring exhibit. Yet, curiously, the Lennon art show has again become a very hot ticket thanks to all that Beatles buzz newly created by remastered editions of the band's albums (2.5 million copies sold worldwide the first week out) and that new "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game.

The latter is getting hordes of young and old alike into the act, playing along with the Fab Four on game-controlling faux guitars, drums and microphones.

"People have been lining up for 45 minutes to an hour to get in and see this exhibit," said show spokesman Rudy Siegel. Today through Sunday, "We All Shine On - The Artwork of John Lennon" is on display at 106 Kings Highway East, in Haddonfield, N.J., with suggested $2 admission donation benefiting the Food Bank of South Jersey. Some limited-edition Lennon prints are available for purchase at prices ranging from $200 to $20,000.

Nor does it hurt that the 76-years-young Ono is still willing to get on the phone to chat up the show, the game and other projects like her brand new, yet true-to-the-code album, "Between My Head and the Sky," produced by son Sean with a mixed crew of Japanese and American rock and jazz musicians cranking it behind the sung-shrieked-spoken Onoisms.

Q: It would seem that John's visual art work - and your own, varied projects - are treated with more respect nowadays. Do you think that's true?

A: John was a very good artist, but most people thought he was just a rocker. There was a kind of disrespect for his art work. It was hard for him to get gallery exhibits. Now people are starting to see there really is an artist there.

As for me, getting more understanding, it's very gratifying. I'm very thankful I'm still alive to see it. The kind of thing I was doing initially and now, it has a lot to do with art history, art movements. With time, people can see that.

Q: You've always been into participatory art, conceptual art, art of the imagination. Do you think a hands-on creation like "The Beatles: Rock Band" is true to all that? Have you played the game? And what else are you into lately?

A: I think "Rock Band" is beautiful and kind of au courant. It's an art work of today and the future. Have I played the game? Not really. One thing I'm into is the Imagine Peace Tower, which I set up in Iceland. I go there every year on John's birthday.

The idea is that people are to look at it, imagine it and send their wishes. It's very strong. If you believe, the beam of light it projects goes all the way to the sky, and it's a message to the universe.

Q: You're still doing that controversial, primal, high-pitched chanting thing on the new album, especially on the first track, "Waiting for the D Train." What's that all about? Your trademark?

A: [Laughing] Some people said to me, "Don't put this in the beginning. People will think it's all that way." But what can I say? I have this rebellious streak in me, which didn't help me for the past decades. If it turns out to be my trademark, I accept that in a way.

I'm trying to show the reality of a woman's voice. This is a man's society. They think women should have two or three voices. They forget we created the human race and, to have done that, we have to have a strong voice.

Q There are a couple of songs on the album that seem to be referencing John - "Memory of Footsteps" and "I'm Going Away Smiling." Was he on your mind?

A: "Memory" is not about John, not about anybody really, but it could be. "I'm Going Away Smiling," it's touch and go. The emotion, the inspiration, came from what I've experienced.

Q: Listening to the Beatles' music on the great-sounding new disks, looking at the catalog of John's artwork and listening to new songs of yours like "Moving Mountains" and "Feel the Sand," I'm struck by how basic, how simplistic so many of the messages seem in today's harsh world. Does "All We Are Saying Is Give Peace a Chance" still work for you?

A: Unlike the work of most other groups, which comes and goes, I think the Beatles' message is still very important. Goodness is something we want to revive. And, fortunately, we're all still a bit naive, aren't we? We should save some of that in ourselves. We're getting too cynical. I don't think we should be saying, "The time is up."

We can still make this planet into a beautiful planet. And the world is going to go on.

"We All Shine On, the Artwork of John Lennon," 106 Kings Highway East (at Chestnut Street), Haddonfield, N.J., 5-9 p.m today, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. tomorrow, noon-7 p.m. Sunday. $2 donation benefits The Food Bank of South Jersey. Directions, 856-216-7253. Show info, 888-ART-1969.