Yoko Ono Retro

A Yoko Ono retrospective has just opened at Chicago's Contemporary Museum of Art. It was originally organized by museums in London, Berlin and Dusseldorf. 

Music of the Mind, on view until the 22nd of February, has more than 200 items showcasing Ono's artistry and activism over seven decades. This includes photography, films, and music. One of the songs is Walking on Thin Ice, her 1981 Grammy-nominated hit.  It was written after she and John Lennon visited Chicago, and she found herself thinking about Lake Michigan.

Participation is a central theme in numerous Ono works. In some cases, people can shake hands through a canvas, hammer a nail into the surface of a painting, or write their thoughts on a wall. 

Another installation--My Mommy Is Beautiful--allows visitors to share photos of their mothers.

An Ono-inspired billboard reading 'Peace is Power,' is outside the museum. The slogan also appears on some of their store's merchandise.