Yoko Ono has been blamed for a lot of things, from breaking up the Beatles, to exploiting the death of her late husband, John Lennon. However, this past weekend, art lovers of Cincinnati had good reason to thank her. On Friday through Sunday evening, visitors at an art show on Vine Street across from Fountain Square got a rare glimpse into the mind of Lennon through his artwork.

We are all familiar with the genius of Lennon through Beatles recordings and through his solo work. Few of us have seen his art, however. In an interview last week with the Enquirer's Jim Knippenberg, Ono said the thing she hears most often about her late husband's art is that "people are surprised that it's so totally professional, not just some pop-star dabblings. They're surprised by the energy and the vitality they find in it also."

More than 100 pieces of Lennon's work - some for viewing and some for sale - were featured at the event, called "Come Together." It was part of a fund-raiser sponsored by the business development group, Downtown Cincinnati Inc., to benefit the Adopt-A-Classroom program.

Adopt-A-Classroom is one of the many charitable causes Ono supports, from AIDS to art and music. For Cincinnati to attract Lennon's work is an honor.

Lennon died in New York in 1980, after he was shot by a deranged fan. Since then, Ono, now 70, has kept his memory alive by releasing recordings of unpublished work and sharing with the public various other aspects of their life together. Last winter, for example, she released a dance version of the song Lennon was recording just before he was killed.

This has surely contributed to the mystique of Lennon, and has allowed fans to keep his memory alive.

For many in Cincinnati this past weekend, it was good to see him again - if only through his art.