Yes, one of Jan Wade’s recent works, consists of a round panel of wood covered with buttons and painted entirely in black. Displayed in the centre is an emphatic “YES.” Resembling a target or a vinyl record, this sculpture directly refers to Japanese American artist Yoko Ono’s (b.1933) Ceiling Painting/Yes Painting, 1966, for which the artist positioned a ladder for visitors to climb to view a tiny-sized “YES” on the ceiling using a magnifying glass. Ono describes the original work as representing a journey from pain and depression toward hope—and the difficulty of attaining this positive state. Although Wade’s own Yes outwardly looks contrary to Ono’s work of conceptual art, Wade shares an affinity with Ono’s personal philosophy of positivity and affirmation. The art of Ono, the music of Ono and John Lennon, and the couple’s artistic and activist collaborations have been an important influence on Wade.