Dear Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon Ono,
I recently read your biography and was deeply moved by your extraordinary life and work. Your ability to imagine and create groundbreaking art in the face of adversity is a profound inspiration. As a 51-year-old artist, married to a fellow artist, and a Jewish woman—granddaughter of Holocaust survivors—I feel a strong pull to reach out to you and your community of peace, especially in these painful and uncertain times.
Imagining peace is something I do every day. I’ve been working for years on an art installation that I believe could help people feel more whole, connected, and united through sacred expression. While the packet I’ve enclosed only includes part of the project, I hope it gives you a meaningful glimpse into the work. There are additional pieces not yet included, some still unfinished, and a few that rely on visitor participation to be complete.
A trip to Japan sparked this vision. I was deeply moved by the spiritual aesthetics of Shinto and Shin Buddhism and how they resonated with Jewish ideas of G-d, holiness, and sanctuary. I was especially fascinated by how languages that are supposed to be vastly different can sound remarkably alike when speaking of the divine.
It reminded of a story in Torah—the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)—that describes a time when all humanity spoke one language. In that shared language, people could create anything together. But their unity was fractured, their speech confounded, and they were scattered across the earth.
I believe that oneness still lives within us—and that reconnecting with it could inspire profound healing. The goal isn’t to erase our differences, but to honor them through mutual understanding and peace. My work seeks to rekindle these ancient connections through functional sculptures that reflect our shared sacred longing.
I’ve often been told my work goes deep but not wide. I’m searching for those with depth to receive and engage with it.
Though I’ve exhibited parts of the installation over the years, I’ve yet to find a permanent home or the resources to fully realize it. I wonder if you—or members of your family and community—might be open to speaking with me about this vision. If the work moves you, would you be willing to help bring it into the world, to reach those who are meant to see it?
Ms. Yoko Ono—I understand that you may not be available to connect personally, but your legacy of peace, feminism, activism, and optimism continues to inspire generations. I was born from that same spirit. Thank you for all you’ve done—and continue to do—for the world.
With deep respect and hope,
Aimee Golant Casella
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