Imagine Peace Tower to be lit in Viðey on Oct. 9

The Imagine Peace Tower in Viðey will be lit for the 20th time on Friday, Oct. 9. A peaceful ceremony on the island will feature music by Árný Margrét and an address by the mayor. Guided walking tours will also be available. The artist Yoko Ono offers free trips to Viðey, departing from Skarfabakki at 5:30 p.m.

The Imagine Peace Tower is an artwork by Yoko Ono. It was installed in Viðey in 2007. The artwork is a strong landmark in the city and a necessary reminder to uphold ideals of peace, especially now with wars raging worldwide. Yoko Ono created the Imagine Peace Tower to carry forward the message of peace that she and her husband John Lennon championed. She dedicated the work to him, and it shines from his birthday on Oct. 9 until the anniversary of his death on Dec. 8.

Wishing trees for peace
The tower's beam of light, which illuminates the evening sky, emanates from a wishing well engraved with the words "imagine peace" in 24 languages, referencing John Lennon's song "Imagine." Like many of Yoko Ono's artworks, this piece isn't just tied to one place and time but connects to another work by the artist: "Wish Trees" found worldwide. This participatory artwork invites people to write down their wishes for peace and prosperity and hang them on the trees. The wishes are collected and preserved in the Imagine Peace Tower. Nearly one million wishes from people around the world lie beneath the Imagine Peace Tower. Wishing trees will be placed at Reykjavík City Hall so people can hang their wishes.

Yoko Ono (born 1933) is a leading visual artist in experimental and avant-garde art. She is closely associated with art movements that emerged in the 1960s, including conceptual art, performance art, Fluxus and event art, and is one of the few women who actively participated in them. 

Program

Guided tours and art workshop
5:30 p.m. An art workshop hosted by Reykjavík Art Museum will take place in Naust until the lighting. 

All guided tours begin at Viðey House:
5:45 p.m. Guided tour by Reykjavík Art Museum covering works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono 
6 p.m.: Reykjavík City Museum historical walk.
6:45 p.m. Guided tour by Reykjavík Art Museum covering works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono.
7 p.m.: Reykjavík City Museum historical walk.

Program at the Imagine Peace Tower
7:45 p.m. Árný Margrét performs at the Imagine Peace Tower
7:58 p.m. Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir delivers an address
8 p.m. The Imagine Peace Tower is illuminated to the song "Imagine" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Transportation
Ferries from Skarfabakki to Viðey run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Return ferries operate from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The ferry is free of charge, but boat registration with Elding is required. 
City buses from City Hall to Skarfabakki run every 30 minutes between 5:30 and 7 p.m.
City buses from Skarfabakki to City Hall run every 30 minutes between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Viðey House will open at 5:30 p.m., with light refreshments available for purchase.

Lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower — Facebook event