IK! - YES YOKO ONO - Keri Wilson's Story - Walker Art Center Opening Weekend, March 9 and 10, 2001

The "Old IK Folks" with Keri
at the Walker After Hours Party

Photo by Tom Ewing.
Click Picture for Bigger View

I started preparing in earnest a month before I left for this trip to Minneapolis, as I told the friends who I talk to regularly, to hopefully
finally get to meet Yoko. I'd been dreaming about it since I first came to
know of and admire John and Yoko in 1978.

I decided to hand-sew a full-length white duster to go over my long dress that I was afraid didn't look like something one would wear to an after hours party for an art exhibition. It looked too feminine and pretty (I had bought it originally to wear as a guest at a cousin's wedding a couple of years ago, and had also worn it at the library annual staff recognition party) - but I worried it didn't look arty enough and I'd look weird in it there. So I bought some white fabric and sewed a duster.

It turned out, I was glad I made the duster, because I also sewed a lining in it that kept me warm while Marsha and I waited by the door for her husband, Tom, to drive from the "lower 40 acres" they had sent him to park in. If I'd had an extra coat with me, I could have loaned it to Marsha as she was quite cold in her outfit that was only slightly warmer than the short sleeve, full length, summer weight dress I had on under my duster. The temperature in the buildings themselves though were set on fry everywhere we went.

But back to preparing for the trip. In Kentucky if you are going to meet
someone (especially if it's for the first time or you haven't seen them in
a while) you bring them a gift. So I sewed a gift bag for both Yoko and for Marsha and Tom, and I bought some gifts to go in the bags. (I didn't know Phil and both Kevins were going to be there until too close to time to buy something for them too (sorry guys, next time we meet up I will!)

I gave Marsha and Tom their gift bag when I met up with them on Thursday evening, and Yoko's at the end of the press conference on Friday.

I decided to ask Yoko one question at the press conference and also to wish her a belated happy birthday in Japanese. (I took Japanese back in college and have kept my memory of the language fresh through my interest in manga and anime.) I realized that I couldn't recall the word for "belated" in Japanese so I said : "I know this is a few weeks late but ureshii tanjobi." Yoko laughed and translated for the other women on the panel that I had wished her a happy birthday in Japanese. I was relieved that my Japanese was clear!

Yoko's answer to my follow-up question ended up being printed in the Star Tribune newspaper the next day. I asked Yoko what traditional Japanese artists, arts, or culture had influenced her, since no one ever
asks about that! She said Zen Buddhism and the books about samurai warriors had influenced her. She wanted to be strong (strength of will) like a warrior.

My other question was what did she think about manga and how it was finally bridging the cultures of the US and Japan. As I noted earlier, manga/anime is a big interest of mine, dating back to the time I was 4 and saw "Speed Racer" on TV. I'm of the first generation manga/anime fans. My interest in manga and anime first sparked my interest in Japanese history and culture and becoming a fan of Yoko's at 12 strengthened my interest 10-fold. I began to read anything and everything about Japan after that, and took a course in the language once I got to college.

I think Yoko was amused a bit by that question. I'll bet no one ever asked her about what she thought of anime and manga!

Yoko with Keri's gift
after the Press Conference
Friday afternoon.

Photo by Keri Wilson

Click Picture to see larger version.

I was able to give Yoko the gift bag after the press conference but wasn't
able to tell her what the signifigance of each of the little gifts were,
except I did get to tell her the little fuzzy bunny rabbit toy was for her
granddaughter Emi. Things were too busy to have time for saying anything else. I hope she enjoys the presents!

On Saturday I was thrilled that the lecture was a performance lecture I
finally got to hear Yoko do her voice modulations in person. It was great!
And because I was slow getting my coat on after the lecture Marsha, Phil
and both Kevins were still in the room when Yoko came back to sign autographs for those girls. I decided to ask Yoko if it was okay if I could get a picture with her. She very graciously said yes. Kevin Concannon took the picture for me.

Keri with Yoko
After Saturday's
Performance.

Photo by
Kevin Concannon

Click Picture to See Larger

It was wonderful finally meeting Yoko! I hope some day I can meet her
again.

One little side impression: What was kind of funny for me was that I was about the youngest person of the IKers there. Everyone (with the exception perhaps of Kevin G.) was definitely several years older than me. The reason I noticed is that I'm used to being in the upper age range in my other interests. At anime conventions for example, I'm a first-generation fan. The largest age group is early-mid twenties so I feel positively middle-aged at an anime convention. I'm even a few years older than some of the manga and anime creators, and many others are of my generation. But with Marsha, Tom, Phil, and Kevin Concannon in Minneapolis I felt like I was very young!

Editor's Note: NO COMMENT! ;-)