Musical Icon: John Lennon

Join MIM for a special birthday celebration in honor of the legendary Beatle John Lennon. Enjoy this fun weekend of Curator Talks, trivia quizzes, lectures, art activities, and more—all commemorating his legacy of peace and love.

John Lennon Gifts Available for Purchase
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Capture the legacy of John Lennon with a special selection of items from the Museum Store, including books, T-Shirts, stationery, DVDs and CDs.

Draw Like John: Abstract Line Portraits
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
John Lennon was an artist of multiple media. He had a whimsical style of drawing that became iconic! Come try out Lennon’s drawing style and create your own portraits to take home.

Photo Booth
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Have your picture taken with costumes and props at MIM’s custom photo booth, and instantly get your own copy to take home.

Toe-Tap Pianos
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
“Imagine” your own music and then play a tune with your toes! Try your skills on our eight-foot-long piano mats.

John Lennon: Musical “Artist”
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Discover John Lennon’s role in defining the concept of “musician as artist.” Mike Shellans, senior lecturer at Arizona State University, will discuss Lennon as a musical “artist,” from the influence of his early art-school background on his music to his post-Beatles Yoko Ono–inspired creations. Shellans is a professional performer and music educator and currently teaches courses such as Music of the Beatles, Beatles after the Beatles, Blues to Heavy Metal, Elvis Presley, and Women Who Rock.

Caricatures by She Draws You
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Commemorate the day with a caricature! Have a whimsical portrait drawn by local artist Dianne Nowicki of She Draws You Caricatures.

English-Inspired Lunch Menu Available for Purchase
11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
“Come Together” at Café Allegro to try a witty twist on traditional English flavors. You can sample “The Quarrymen” Shepherd’s Pie or “Give Trifle Pudding a Chance” by choosing dessert.

Curator Talk: John Lennon and the “Imagine” Piano
1:15–2:00 p.m.
Join David Wegehaupt, MIM’s associate curator for United States / Canada and Europe, for a talk about the life, music, and instruments of John Lennon, with an in-depth look at the Steinway Model Z upright piano he used to write one of his most widely recognized songs, “Imagine.” The piano has been on display in MIM’s Artist Gallery since the museum opened in 2010.

John Lennon MIMQuiz
2:15–3:00 p.m.
How much do you really know about John Lennon and his music? Join us for some exciting rounds of team trivia. Come with a team or make new friends as we test your John Lennon and Beatles knowledge! The winning team will receive one $10 MIM gift card per person (up to four people in team).