A post I wrote for Hometown Pasadena, followed by the actual event. Anyone interested, I encourage you to bring it to your city or town—this is very cool.
Wanna play?
For three weeks at 30 locations around Southern California, 30 pianos will be available to interested and eager fingers. Anyone may sit and play (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) as part of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra celebration of music director Jeffrey Kahane’s 15th anniversary.
This free public art installation will launch on Thursday, April 12th with 30 pianists on 30 pianos—playing simultaneously—performing the complete prelude from Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Each piano has been decorated, used as “three dimensional canvases.” Artists range from the well-known muralist Kent Twitchell and Columbian-American artist Frank Cubillos to one painted by Homeboy Industries, one by the Armory Center for the Arts, and one designed by L.A. Chamber Orchestra staff member Caroline Shuhart and painted by children of LACO musicians.
Piano by the L.A. Chamber Orchestra & Their Children
LACO Executive Director Rachel Fine says, “With the pianos serving as blank canvases upon which people can share their own creativity, we look forward to hearing our neighbors, co-workers, and other fellow Angelenos play these instruments. Beyond solo playing, we encourage choirs, bands, other musical ensembles and even dancers to incorporate rehearsals or jam sessions at the piano sites. Some people may seek out all 30 pianos to see the different locations as well as the unique visual aspects of each instrument. The pianos are there to be enjoyed by everyone.”
Pianos can be found—and enjoyed—locally at One Colorado in Old Pasadena, the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and Vroman’s Bookstore courtyard.
“Play Me, I’m Yours,” originated by British artist Luke Jerram, has already been performed on 500 pianos in 22 cities, involving 22 million people around the world.
“Play Me, I’m Yours”: 30 Pianos, 30 Locations
Launch: Thursday, April 12th, Noon
Locations: One Colorado, Pas. Conservatory of Music & Vroman’s courtyard
Installation up 24/7 through May 3rd
For more info, visit streetpianosLA.com
Artist Gino Gaspara: photo by Armory Center for the Arts
Gino Gaspara; photo by Armory Center for the Arts
Artist Gino Gaspara With His Finished Piano; photo by Armory Center for the Arts
Yesterday at noon, I went to One Colorado in Old Pasadena to see and listen:
Mark Robson, pianist
© 2012 Kat Ward
What FUN! Now I wish I were back ‘home’, so I could stop by and check this out.
Thanks for sharing it with us!
might be worth going and filming on your own. I saw Kent working on his piano
This is so fantastic!!
I know, it really is. I wish they had video cameras at all the different locations—not in a Big Brother sort of way!—but to see all the little kids give it a try, students, and experienced musicians. I hope people take advantage of them.
Though I think the pianos were donated, a lot of organization went into this event, and this is where I like to see our tax dollars at work—engaging citizens and bringing art out in the open through a visual, auditory and tactile experience.