John Lennon's passion for music, art, politics and film--with a New York City focus--will be the subject of a new feature exhibit opening next month at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC.

"John Lennon: The New York City Years," opening May 12, has been designed to capture Lennon's life during an era that was full of political and social activism. The show will feature numerous Lennon artifacts--including items representing his inimitable fashion statements--as well as iconic photographs, legendary instruments, original handwritten lyrics and artwork, according to a press release.

Several items representing Lennon's lengthy fight against deportation--which was instigated by the Nixon administration's belief that his anti-war campaign presented a threat to its power--will be on display during the exhibition. Among those items will be the British rock star's green card and never-before-seen letters in support of his American visa written by well-known personalities including Joan Baez, Dick Clark and John Lindsay, the mayor of NYC from 1966 to 1973.

Visitors to the exhibit also will be the first to see Lennon's actual "New York City" t-shirt, as well as the Telecaster guitar he used when he played at the historic Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden in 1974. Also debuting will be an original self-portrait of Lennon with his fist in the air, in the guise of NYC's Statue of Liberty.

Created for the NYC Annex by Yoko Ono, "John Lennon: The New York City Year" is curated by Jim Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Spirit Foundations, a charitable organization Lennon and Ono created to further their philanthropic initiatives.

The NYC Annex will extend its hours throughout the special exhibit's stay as a way to mark the true spirit of Lennon, New York City and rock 'n' roll, which organizers point out are synonymous with pulsating nightlife. The Annex will remain open until 10 p.m. during the week and until midnight on the weekends.