Palmer Square exhibit displays Lennon art

Over 20 pieces of art were sold, with works such as Lennon’s “Bed-In for Peace” going for up to $19,000. The proceeds will benefit the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, a nonprofit organization that aims to “alleviate hunger through food distribution, nutrition education and assistance, advocacy and outreach,” according to its website.

Much of the exhibition’s success can be attributed to the accessibility of Lennon’s art to the public, organizer Rudy Siege said.

“The artworks are enjoyable by the masses,” he explained. “You don’t have to be a huge art aficionado to really get into this collection. More often, people are going to this exhibit because they are Lennon fans and Beatles fans, not because they like art.”

The exhibition included serigraphs and copper etchings that were hand printed from Lennon’s original drawings. Collectors and fans of Lennon’s work could also purchase lithographs of his handwritten lyrics. All reproductions were hand-signed by Ono

“Few know that Lennon was as good an artist as a singer and songwriter,” Siege said, adding that Lennon rarely slept. “He was always creating, whether that be songs or sketches. He always had sketchbooks or notebooks to write songs and draw.”

The drawings, such as one of “crabs crabbing,” became Lennon’s teaching tools for his son Sean, Siege explained.

“Here Sean, here is a crab — a crabbing crab ... like mom and dad in the morning when they are crabby,” Siege said in imitation of Lennon speaking to his son about one of the drawings.

One guest said she wasn’t aware that Lennon had produced so much artwork in addition to his prolific song lyrics.

“Just looking at all the pictures ... brings back a lot of memories, growing up with the Beatles,” she said. “And I am such a cat person, so I think his cat pictures are really nice.”

Matt Miller ’12 said he enjoyed the exhibition and appreciated the fact that Ono was donating the proceeds of the exhibit to charity.

“I am a Beatles fanatic,” he said.

The pieces on display in the exhibit spanned a time period from Lennon’s youth in 1964 to his assassination in 1980. The public could also view four new releases over the weekend that had not been shown in Mercer County before the exhibit.