Imagine John’s Lennon’s artwork on display and for sale in Cape May.

It isn’t hard to do.

For three days, July 20, 21, and 22, we can enter the world of John and Yoko Ono, gazing at their passionate love for each other, a hope that “War is Over,” and a taste of Lennon’s dry wit.

The art stems from Lennon’s pencil and ink sketches that have a James Thurber quality to them. He often depicted himself and Yoko in domestic life and in his own ponderings on the purpose of life and his search for happiness and inner peace after the merry-go-round world of The Beatles.

According to a press kit from Ono, Lennon sketched very rapidly, sometimes in a single line.

She notes on one occasion, while in a dark mood, he drew a very funny picture. Ono said he could also draw a picture of black humor when in a happy mood.

“Along with his guitar, pen and paper seemed to have served as idea tools to express John’s complex emotions,” she said.

Legacy Fine Art & Productions, in conjunction with Ono, showcase the artwork of Lennon in “Come Together” an opportunity for fans from all generations to see the truly artistic side of Lennon.

The exhibit will be housed at 411 Washington St. (former Build A Bear store) on the Washington Street Mall.

The exhibit will feature hand-signed pieces, as well as limited edition prints.

The ever-changing exhibit has been one of the highest attended art showings in the U.S. for the past fifteen years and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities throughout the world.

The exhibit includes the largest collection of Lennon’s works on paper ever assembled including over 100 pieces of art created by Lennon, encompassing the years 1968 through 1980 featuring selected new releases “War Is Over If You Want It” and “Imagine Peace.”

Rare works from the controversial “Bag-One” suite signed by Lennon in 1970 will be displayed along with serigraphs, lithographs, copper etchings and aqua tints of Lennon’s drawings, signed by Ono.

Also including in the exhibit is Lennon’s song lyric pages and the “Real Love” children’s drawings, sketched for their son Sean during the last few years of Lennon’s life.

While some purists have criticized Ono for adding color to Lennon’s sketches, they present some delightful artwork for children with a monkey chattering on a telephone, a walrus wedding, a bird bath consisting of a bird perched in a tree during a rainstorm and an owl hooting the horn of a car he is driving.

Ono said she believes Lennon would be totally surprised and very pleased by the warmth of which is artwork is received today.

While in many minds, Lennon is remembered as songwriter-singer-musician, he attended Liverpool Art School for three years. He also wrote two books containing sketches.

Perhaps our best glimpse of his dry wit was in the Beatle’s movies “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “Help,” and Lennon’s talk show appearances in the 1970s.

His untimely death produced a shocking moment in the lives of many who remember where and when they heard the news of his murder. I have passed The Dakota building in New York City numerous times, his last home, always giving thought to the great music he brought us all.

In the spirit of John and Yoko’s benevolence, the event will be raise money to help benefit Cape May Stage. A $2 donation at the door is suggested.
Exhibit hours are July 20, noon to 9 p.m., July 21, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 22, 11a.m. to 6 p.m.

For show information, call 888-ART-1969.