By Steve Marinucci
Published on November 11, 1999, San Jose Mercury News (CA)
JOHN Lennon was not considered the sweet Beatle. That role was filled by Paul McCartney.
But Lennon did have his tender side -- and one aspect of it will be on view today through Sunday in the ''Art of John Lennon'' exhibit at San Jose's Westgate Mall.
During his days as a househusband after the birth of his son Sean on John's birthday on Oct. 9, 1975 , father and son often spent time drawing pictures together and making up funny captions for them as a way of playing together. Over 35 of those drawings were gathered in a book published earlier this year, "Real Love: The Drawings for Sean" (Random House, $12.99). Twelve of those drawings will be featured in the exhibit.
By phone from New York, Yoko Ono said that the drawings show that although, as a rock star, John had "a macho side too, at home he was a very kind of sweet, gentle person."
They were done when Sean was between the ages of 2 to 4, Ono says. After Sean turned 5 on Oct. 9, 1980, Ono says, "I think John was very busy with the 'Double Fantasy' album and I don't think there was much (drawing) going on."
In the introduction to the book, Ono described the process of how the drawings were created. "John would draw something and explain to Sean what it was. 'This is a cat catnapping, Sean.' 'Oh.' Then it was Sean's turn. He would show the drawings and explain, 'This is a bus and the people who want to get on the bus, but they can't because the bus is too small … so they're crying." Titles were added to each picture, some by Sean and some by John. The drawings also were originally in black-and-white, which Ono allowed to be augmented with color for use in the book. "I usually do the coloring. I always feel that he (John) wouldn't have minded if I did it myself, being his partner and all. But this time, it was … a special coloring you do for children's books. I let the professionals do it … somebody who knew professionally what you were supposed to do for children's books."
The drawings, she says, represent a special time in the relationship of the father and son. "Whatever he did with Sean, it was such a sweet thing to do. I think there was an incredible separation from what he did for Sean and what he did as his own artwork."
Ono says, however, she hasn't discussed the book with Sean.. "One of the reason I don't particularly want to bring up these subjects with Sean is that it still hurts him," she said.
The exhibit includes more than 100 serigraphs, signed lithographs and original drawings. Twenty hand-signed song lyrics will also be on display, as will several works from the original "Bag One" portfolio first shown in 1970 included in the permanent collection from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
As witnessed by the public uproar those Bag One drawings, which included a number of erotic sketches, received, John and Yoko's public image was often negative when Lennon was alive, but things seemed to have improved. Apple Computer Inc. recently featured a widely circulated billboard featuring John and Yoko as part of its "Think Different" campaign.
"That was marvelous," said Ono. "(It) was extremely lucky that we were chosen as well. I feel good about it. I think everything was really politically correct. They told me that they would like to give 100 computers to schools that didn't have computers instead of paying. I thought that was just right. Usually, in a case like that, I would have asked them to donate to the Spirit Foundation (a charitable works group set up by Yoko), but it's the same thing if they wanted to give the computers to kids. That was beautiful. … I think the ad was very special."
Also, Entertainment Weekly used the Nov. 5 installment of its weekly Encore feature to spotlight the 33rd anniversary of the meeting of John and Yoko, which took place on Nov. 9, 1966 at London's Indica Gallery. "We were really proud of that … the whole family," she said.
So what attracted John to her avant-garde artwork? "I think that it's the fun quality (in it). I think he was surprised there was some sense of humor. Usually when he (went) to art exhibitions, he told me (they were) … too serious or angry or something. (My exhibit) was, like, selling fresh apples for 200 (British) pounds … fun joke, in a way. Also, he had to climb up the ladder and (find a sign) that said 'yes.' There was some kind of playful quality to … my work. I think the playfulness is something that caught his eye."
Ono's own artistic contributions have received their own share of special recognition recently. One of her works is currently included in the "The American Century: Art & Culture 1900-2000" exhibit currently running at New York's Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. In addition, her song "Walking On Thin Ice," done with John just before his death, is included in the Rhino boxed set, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," a collection of music by women. "It's something I never thought would happen, thinking those things coming back while I'm alive. It's beautiful."
As far as Lennon projects go, Billboard magazine recently reported a film taken mainly from unreleased footage of the "Imagine" recording sessions called "Gimme Some Truth" will be released to TV and video . Ono acknowledged this, saying, "We're thinking in terms of (releasing it) Valentine's Day next year." But she wouldn't comment on other Lennon and Beatle projects that may be in the works, saying "I don't usually believe in dropping hints because it's better not to say anything."
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