Baltic return for Yoko Ono artwork as Gateshead gallery launches autumn season with message of peace
Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace banner will feature alongside exhibitions by North East artists and a Sycamore Gap tribute during the autumn-winter season at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
by Barbara Hodgson · ChronicleLiveAn artwork by Yoko Ono which went on show in Gateshead 16 years ago is to make a return ahead of this weekend to mark the International Day of Peace.
The billboard work Imagine Peace first went on display on the outside wall of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in 2008 as part of Ono's Between the Sky and My Head exhibition there - her biggest UK show - which she came over to promote. At the time, crowds turned up to see the concept artist and peace activist - widow of The Beatles' John Lennon - and join in a display using torches to signal Morse code messages of I Love You into the night sky.
This time Ono, now 91, will have her banner, which she says is to encourage viewers to 'think peace, spread peace and act peace', spreading the word once again. It will be installed on Thursday in time to tie in with Saturday's International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, which takes place on September 21 each year in a bid to promote a peace culture.
With world conflict so much in the news, Baltic is also organising a range of activities for the day. Visitors will be able to add messages to three Peace Trees - Ono is also known for her own Wish Tree installations - and take part in creative writing workshops.
At 6pm they then can join a Moment of Peace vigil which will run, with music, until sunset. Ono’s Imagine Peace banner will then keep the theme going, remaining on the exterior of Baltic until the end of December.
In 2022 the gallery became the first in England to be granted a special 'sanctuary' status, as part of a drive to encourage inclusivity and compassion. Baltic director Sarah Munro said of the upcoming event: “The theme of inclusivity and diversity will be at the heart of the events and activities as we underline our commitment to being a Gallery of Sanctuary by marking United Nation’s International Day of Peace.
"With the kind permission and blessing of the artist, Yoko Ono’s famous Imagine Peace artwork banner will once again adorn the building as communities across our region and the world reflect on building a culture of peace."
The artwork's plays a central part in the gallery's autumn and winter programme which also will honour the much-missed Sycamore Gap tree which was felled a year ago. Heartwood, which will open October 23 and run until January 26, is an exhibition of five tree prints commissioned by the National Trust and created by Shona Branigan from a cross-section disc of the sycamore, showing every groove and detail.
Other programme highlights will include a family-friendly exhibition, from October 12, of interactive sculpture objects by Leap then Look artists Lucy Cran and Bill Leslie and, opening on December 7, a solo show by Newcastle-based artist Mani Kambo influenced by her upbringing in a Sikh household and its superstition, prayers and ceremony. For the full programme, including a textiles and ceramics Happy Mart with gifts for sale; a celebration of documentary 'Zero Tolerance' photographer Franki Raffles; a Walk on Fire charity fun-raiser; Winter Warmer Saturday festive event and an Endless Love Creative Makers Market see here.
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