Who is Yoko Ono?

I have a story up today at Defector about spending a weekend at an academic and artistic symposium on Yoko Ono’s art. It was a fascinating but exhausting multidimensional examination of the most reviled artists of our time.

This time last week, I had what I assume to be the average level of knowledge about Yoko Ono and her art: She screamed, she protested, she was a little too present in a project that wasn’t hers, and she continued creating art that advocated for peace even after watching her husband get shot right in front of her.

But in terms of what that art actually was, I would have had trouble describing or naming any of it. This struck me as a cultural oversight on my part, so I did what anyone would do and signed up to attend a two-day academic and artistic symposium celebrating her work in honor of her 92nd birthday.

This piece was thoughtfully edited by Brandy Jensen.

I hope you enjoy the story and learn something new about Yoko.

P.S. There is a bit of a bit that runs throughout this essay. Let me know when you figure it out.