YOKO ONO IS ON HER WAY TO ICELAND TO RELIGHT THE IMAGINE PEACE TOWER

Yoko Ono is on her way to Iceland to relight the Imagine Peace Tower, which is located on the island of Viðey in Reykjavík, in memory of her late husband John Lennon, on the occasion of his 76th birthday on 9 October.

On the same day Yoko will present The Lennon Ono Grant For Peace Award at Harpa Music and Conference Hall in Reykjavík. The award has been handed out every two years since 2002 and is presented to individuals who symbolize the continuing campaign for world peace. This year’s recipients are Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei (1957), British-Indian artist Anish Kapoo (1954), Hungarian composer, performance artist and actor Katalin Ladik (1942) and Danish-Icelandic artist Ólafur Elíasson (1967).

Previously the award has been given to Lady Gaga, Pussy Riot, Jann S. Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone Magazine and Jón Gnarr, comedian and former mayor of Reykjavík to name just a few.

Imagine Peace Tower is an artwork created by Yoko Ono and dedicated to the universal struggle for peace, as embodied by her late husband John Lennon. The name is a reference to Lennon's song "Imagine". 

The tower is located on a Viðey island on Kollafjörður Bay which is a short sail from Reykjavík. 

The monument consists of a white wishing well with the words ‘Imagine Peace’ carved in 24 different languages. 15 searchlights are powered by Iceland’s plentiful geothermal energy and pour a stream of light up to and into cloud cover. On a clear night, the beams can reach up to 4,000 meters into the sky. 

The tower is kept lit every year from October 9, Lennon’s birthday, through 8 December, the date he was shot, as well as on New Year’s day, the first day of spring and special occasions as tonight. It was first lit in 2007.

There are daily ferry depart­ures to Viðey island from Skarfabakki pier, Harpa and Ægis­garður pier. See schedule on videy.com

On 9 October there will be free bus rides to the pier of the Viðey ferry and free rides to the island where the city of Reykjavík will host a special program between 17.15 and 21.30 (5.15-9.30pm). Yoko will relight the tower at 20 (8 pm).

Schedule
16.45-19.10 (4.45-7.10 pm) The City Bus runs from Hlemmur bus terminal to Skarfabakki Pier every 20 minutes. The City Bus is free of charge from Hlemmur bus terminal to Skarfabakki Pier and back again.
17.00-19.30 (5.00-7.30 pm) : The ferry sails from Skarfabakki Pier to Viðey Island.
21.00 (9.00 pm): After the ceremony the ferry sails from Viðey Island to Skarfabakki Pier until all guests have been transported to the mainland. The City Bus will run to Hlemmur bus terminal from Skarfabakki Pier until the last ferry has arrived.

Programme
17.30-19.30 (5.30 pm-7.30 pm: Family Lab hosted by Reykjavík Art Museum at Viðeyjarstofa.
17.15-18.30 (5.15-6.30 pm): Guided tours on the history of Viðey and the works of Richard Serra.
18.30 (6.30 pm): Music performance by Soffía Björg.
19.40 (7.40 pm:) The choir Söngfjelagið performs by the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.
20.00 (8.00 pm): The illumination of the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.
20.30 (8.30- 9.30) pm: Music performance by Snorri Helgason at Viðeyjarnaust.

Refreshments can be bought in Viðeyjarnaust and Viðeyjarstofa.

There will be a live coverage every night trom 9 October to 8 December at imaginepeacetower.com at 8pm in Reykjavik, 9pm in London and Liverpool, 4pm in New York, 1pm in Los Angeles, 5am in Tokyo.