Strawberry Fields & John Lennon Peace Memorials Worldwide

John Lennon was known for his efforts to promote world peace around the world through his music, art, and writings. John's widow, artist and musician Yoko Ono, has dedicated her life to actively promoting peace on a global scale since John Lennon's death almost forty years ago, and is largely responsible for a number of John Lennon peace memorials worldwide, including Strawberry Fields in New York City, the Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavik, Iceland and The John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Japan. Along with these, other memorials to John Lennon exist in Praque, Liverpool and Cuba. This lens will explore some of these memorials.

Located at the entrance to West 72nd Street, Central Park, New York City

Strawberry Fields, in New York City's Central Park, is named after the song "Strawberry Fields Forever" and is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon 1940-1980. The world-famous singer, songwriter, and social activist was gunned down in front of his home at "the Dakota" (famous NYC apartment building at 1 Central Park in NYC) on December 8, 1980.

The Strawberry Fields Memorial is 2.5 acres and was inaugurated on what would have been John Lennon's 45th birthday, October 9th, 1985. This living memorial was designed by architect Bruce Kelly and underwritten by artist and performer Yoko Ono, his widow.

The entrance to the John Lennon Strawberry Fields Memorial is on

West 72nd Street and Central Park West. It's located across the street from the Dakota Apartment, where John Lennon lived when he was killed.

The Dakota is a massive luxury apartment building. Many of its residents have been celebrities, including Leonard Bernstein, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, etc.

The best way to Strawberry Fields Memorial is to take a bus, a subway, or taxi. If you are close enough, you can simply walk. The entrance is on West 72nd Street and Central Park West. Once you enter Central Park at West 72nd Street, the memorial is only about 20 feet from the entrance.

Two "Do Nots" from a Former NYC Resident ~ me

1. Do not enter the park when it is dark because it's dangerous.

2. Do not drive your car unless you feel you absolutely must. Finding parking is extremely difficult, congestion is atrocious, and the Big Apple wants to charge motorists $8 to enter Manhattan and truck drivers $21 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.*

Subways

Take Subway train B(Weekdays 6am-10:30pm only), C(Except 11:30pm-5:30am) to West 72nd Street and Central Park West. Cross the street and you're there.

OR

Take Subway train1, 2, or 3 and exit at West 72nd Street between Broadway & Amsterdam. Then walk down West 72nd to Central Park West (two city blocks). Cross the street and you're there.

You can get the current schedule of all buses and subways from New York City Transit.

*Wired Blog Network: "Autopia"

and the Garden of Peace

The focal point of Strawberry Fields is a beautiful circular mosaic, copied from the mosaics of ancient Pompeii.

Created by Italian stone workers and donated by the city of Naples, the "Imagine Circle" was made out of inlaid stones sent in from countries all over the world. In the center is the word "IMAGINE" - John Lennon's plea to the world for peace.

Strawberry Fields and more specifically, the "Imagine Circle," has become a pilgrimage site for visitors around the world. It is often covered with flowers, poems, candles in glasses and other loving adornments. Many gatherings take place there throughout the year and candlelight ceremonies are held, marking the birthday of John Lennon and the other "Beatles." Following the September 11, 2001 attack on New York City's World Trade Towers, nightly candlelight vigils were held in the Strawberry Fields "Imagine Circle" to remember those who were killed.

Strawberry Fields memorial is home to one of the most beautiful pathways in Central Park - one that was a favorite of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. As you walk down the path, you'll find the Garden of Peace Plaque. This bronze plaque lists 121 countries endorsing Strawberry Fields as a Garden of Peace.

One of the Most Beautiful Songs Ever Created

"Imagine all the people

living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you'll join us,

and the world will be as one."

John Lennon

"John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth" thoroughly examines the career of John Lennon - his birth, childhood, life as a Beatle, his activism, his marriage to Yoko Ono, and his solo career. This thoroughly researched biography will take you through the highs and lows of John Lennon's career. Put together as a group of stories, this emotionally compelling book will keep you totally captivated.

My Favorite Quotations by John Lennon

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."

"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it."

"Possession isn't nine-tenths of the law. It's nine-tenths of the problem."

"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it."

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream.

A dream you dream together is reality. "

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

"My role in society, or any artist or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all." (Interview with KFRC RKO Radio, given the day of his death., December 8, 1980)

Living and Manifesting Our Dreams

"You make your own dream. That's the Beatles' story, isn't it? That's Yoko's story. That's what I'm saying now. Produce your own dream. If you want to save Peru, go save Peru. It's quite possible to do anything, but not to put it on the leaders and the parking meters. Don't expect Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan or John Lennon or Yoko Ono or Bob Dylan or Jesus Christ to come and do it for you. You have to do it yourself."

"That's what the great masters and mistresses have been saying ever since time began. They can point the way, leave sign posts and little instructions in various books that are now called holy and worshipped for the cover of the book and not for what it says, but the instructions are all there for all to see, have always been and always will be. There's nothing new under the sun. All the roads lead to Rome. And people cannot provide it for you. I can't wake you up. You can wake you up. I can't cure you. You can cure you."

John Lennon

John Lennon Memorials Around the World

John Lennon Memorials Around the World

The John Lennon Museum, located in Saitama City, Saitama, Japan, opened on what would have been John Lennon's 60th birthday: October 9th, 2000. The museum hopes to accurately pass on John Lennon's vision to the future.

A trip to the museum begins with a welcoming message and short film narrated by Yoko Ono. Then visitors walk through the Exhibit Zones, which house John Lennon's beloved guitars, his costumes, the handwritten lyrics, his film, music, his writings, & more.

Toward the end of the exhibit is a "reflection room" filled with chairs facing a slide show of moving words and images. John's messages, taken from 28 of his compositions, are displayed on walls of pure white and seem to infuse the viewer with his spirit.

There's a museum Lounge as well, were visitors can rest, talk, listen to music, and purchase John Lennon items.

The Imagine Peace Tower is a wondrous artwork by Ono Ono in memory of John Lennon. Located in Reykjavik, Iceland, it is a collaboration between Yoko Ono, the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum and Reykjavik Energy. It is dedicated to world peace and is lit up between October 9th to December 8th, on New Year's Eve, and on other special occasions agreed upon by the collaborators.

The installation is in the form of a wishing well from which the brilliant tower of light shines forth.The well is filled with about 500,000 capsules containing messages of hope sent by people

around the world. John's message to the world, "Imagine Peace," is inscribed in 24 languages.

You can find more information on Dr. Kirsti A. Dyer's lens Imagine Peace Tower.

More John Lennon Peace Memorials are Going Up Around the World All the Time

The John Lennon Peace Wall, in the Czech Republic of Prague, was started in the 80's before the Czech Republic came into existence

and it was still Czechoslovakia, a communist state. The wall was used to express the people's yearning for peace and for freedom. Today the wall stands for peace and love. It is continuously changing. Even when it is occasionally repainted by authorities, by the next day it is filled with peace poems, lyrics from John's songs, and pictures of flowers.

Other memorials include the airport in Liverpool, England, which has been renamed "John Lennon Airport" (JLA). The image on the left shows the upper section of the 7 foot (2.1 m) tall bronze statue of John Lennon, unveiled in 2002 by Yoko Ono to mark the renaming the airport. A few lines from the song "Imagine" are featured in the form of a mural near the entrance, while the statue graces the check in area.

In Havana, Cuba, there is a park dedicated to John Lennon, with a wonderful statue of John sitting on a park bench. Castro unveiled this statue on December 8, 2000, exactly twenty years from the day John Lennon was killed.

John Lennon's widow, artist Yoko Ono, has dedicated her life to spreading John's message of peace and has been responsible, in large part, for Strawberry Fields Memorial in New York City's Central Park, the John Lennon Museum in Japan, and the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland.

There are more John Lennon memorials going up around the world all the time. It's a new century and John's message of peace is being heard and cherished by people around the world. Imagine.

John Lennon Statue in Airport image (middle left) used under Creative Commons from Rebecca_bexxi

John Lennon was a visual artist before he was a musician. He attended art school and loved making drawings. The following are a few examples currently available of eBay:

I'm an artist & art educator & I share my life with a wonderful husband and two very special Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

In 1980 I was living in New York City near the Dakota, where John Lennon was shot. I heard the gunshots, the cries, the sirens, the all night vigil. To this day I mourn the loss of this great human being.

Please stop by and say hi. And if you've seen any of John's memorials or been to tributes for John, please let us know. Either way, we would love to hear from you!