With his camera held firmly in hand, Jonas Mekas made his mark as a pioneer of experimental video with 16mm films that captured day-to-day moments of the downtown New York art scene in its early heyday throughout the ’60s and ’70s. 

In his latest film, Mekas shares what he describes as “a valentine to Yoko Ono,” done in his signature diaristic style. Mixing the familiar 16mm film with DV video, he offers a fly-on-the-wall look at intimate moments spent with one of the foremost artists of that era, including performances by Ono and new footage of her recent work—a testament to her endurance and the friendships she has made and kept over the years. 

It’s “a movie of memory,” Mekas says. “Nostalgia and friendship, with Yoko Ono, John Lennon, George Maciunas, Andy Warhol.”

Jonas Mekas is currently fundraising to expand the Anthology Film Archives, a leading center for independent and underground film. Learn more about the project here .