Beforehis untimely death in 1980 at the age of 40, John Lennon made his mark on theworld through his music, wooing throngs of adoring teenage girls as a Beatleand later as a solo artist, with songs like "Imagine" and "Give Peace aChance." October 9 would have been Lennon's 71st birthday, and to pay tributeto the legendary artist, his widow Yoko Ono, Bag One Arts, and Legacy Fine Arts& Productions are holding a New York exhibition of his artwork entitled"Gimme Some Truth: The Artwork of John Lennon."

For the last tenyears, Ono has honored her late husband's birthday by presenting an artexhibition, giving Lennon's fans an opportunity to see another side of themusician. This year's show, on view in SoHo through October 10, is named afterthe song Lennon wrote for the "Imagine" album 40 years ago. Drawings, sketches, andwritten words spanning his entire career will be on display.

The pieces includea lithograph of a handwritten draft of "Gimme Some Truth"; a playful cartoon Lennon made in 1979 of himself standingin water, clad in a t-shirt with a sun and blue shorts, aptly titled "Nothing IsImpossible"; and a simple abstract black ink drawing of Ono and Lennon'sentangled bodies called "Bag One" from 1969. In the tradition of Lennon and Ono'sactivism and generosity, the show will also raise money for Citymeals-on-Wheels,suggesting a $2 donation at the door.

Lennon was avisual artist even before Beatlemania hit, studying at the Liverpool College ofArt in the late '50s, but didn't exhibit his work until the early '70s becausethe art world looked down on his celebrity status. Last year Ono celebratedLennon's 70th birthday with a series of global events and art exhibitions atvenues around the world, with festivities in places like  Boulder, Colorado; Los Angeles; and Reykjavík, Iceland.

Still an activeartist, Ono recently exhibited at the Yokohama Triennale in Japan, whichincluded her piece, "Telephone in Maze," where visitors walk through a glassmaze to reach a telephone, and maybe even get a call from Ono. She will be inReykjavík on Sunday to light the Imagine Peace Tower in memory ofLennon.

Clickon the photo gallery at left to see highlights from "Gimme Some Truth: TheArtwork of John Lennon," on view at 76 Wooster Street in New York throughOctober 10.