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Tuesday, October 12, 2010
FEATURES 3
Tribute to John
Let’s celebrate the life of John
DESIGNER: American artist Lauren Voiers who created the monument
P
EACE and harmony – two words John Lennon is likely to have appreciated. It is also the name of the new European Peace Monument unveiled in Liverpool on what would have been John’s 70th birthday last weekend. The 18ft aluminium statue features a globe surrounded by music and musical instruments, with doves of peace circling overhead - one holding a white feather at the request of Julian Lennon. It looks remarkably like a liver bird clutching a sprig in its beak. Amazing considering the artist, 19-year-old Lauren Voiers, hails from Ohio and is unlikely to have seen a liver bird before. And equally amazing since she started to design the monument (albeit with the music and words of Lennon ringing in her ears) before she knew the artwork was going to be erected in Liverpool. California-based Global Peace Initiative, which plans to erect a peace monument on every continent of the world, had
TRIBUTE: Julian Lennon with his mum Cynthia Lennon on stage with the Liverpool Signing choir in the background
earmarked Berlin for this one until a call out of the blue from the Beatles Story’s managing director Jerry Goldman a few months ago. “Going back to the beginning, we decided the city should have a Lennon festival and a key part of that was to try and attract more
GUEST STARS: Mark and Joe McGann at the unveiling
tourism, particularly from the US market,” he says. “The city has created a wonderful two-month programme of events, but then I felt something was missing. “When you go to New York and especially Strawberry Fields in Central Park, thousands and
EXPLORE THE WORLD OF A YOUNG JOHN THERE are places I’ll remember’ sang John Lennon in his love song to Liverpool, In My Life. Now those places, and the people the musician recalled, are being celebrated in a new book by author and friend, Mersey Beat founder Bill Harry. He explores the magical musical landscape through the eyes of the young Lennon, from Mendips to Aunt Mimi to McCartney, via Ye Cracke, Cynthia, the Casbah and the Cavern. In My Life - Lennon’s Liverpool by Bill Harry is published by Trinity Mirror Media costing £9.99. Buy it from www.merseyshop.com or call 0845 143 0001.
SUPPORTIVE: Julian Lennon embraces his mum Cynthia Lennon PICTURES: Colin Lane
thousands of people from all over the world gather and think of John Lennon. And I thought, why not such a happening in Liverpool?” He called Ben Valenty, the head of the Global Peace Initiative, looking for an artist to create something, and was told there was already a monument being created for Europe.
“He said ‘if you saw this monument you’d think it had been designed for John Lennon,” says Mr Goldman. And from then on, and with the city council and Liverpool ONE on board, Liverpool became the focus for the siting and unveiling of the piece. Mr Goldman says: “I think it will have a dramatic effect on tourism over time. But now it’s up to us to make the monument a living thing. We need people to gather and celebrate and contemplate.” Meanwhile Liverpool Lord Mayor Hazel Williams told the crowd which gathered to see the monument unveiled on Chavasse Park: “Liverpool is deeply honoured that the Global Peace Initiative has sought to choose John’s hometown to be their location for Europe’s beacon of hope and peace. “As a tribute to John’s life, it’s a fitting gift. A unique gift we are only too happy to accept. A precious gift which we promise to protect and to promote all that it stands for. “And through it we will continue to say – Give Peace A Chance.”