I am so excited and honored to have been chosen as one of Sing for Hope's 2016 piano artists. Each year, Sing for Hope selects local and international artists to create individual piano artworks as a part of their programs bringing #artforall - connecting under-resourced schools, hospitals, and community centers with artists donating their time and talents to those who need it most. The largest public arts project in NYC, The Sing for Hope Pianos are then placed in public spaces throughout the five boroughs in June, making these painted pianos accessible to everyone who sees (and plays) them. I've been wanting to be a part of this public art project since its beginning, and I was thrilled to be have been chosen for it this year!
My Sing for Hope piano was located behind Greg Wyatt's "Peace Fountain" sculpture, on Amsterdam Avenue and 111th Street.
Image courtesy of St. John the Divine's website.
The 2016 Sing For Hope Pianos were launched together at 28 Liberty Plaza with special performances by famous musicians. My piano was then placed at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, in the Peace Garden.
Metro New York has posted an article about the 2016 Sing for Hope Pianos, with special emphasis that "This year, for the first time, the nonprofit has announced that the Sing for Hope has partnered with the city’s Department of Education to have the pianos donated to city public schools following their public displays." (Scroll through the photos online to see my piano - in its early stages - featured on photo #17, as well as printed in the paper version.)
I tracked my piano project with #sfhpianospeony on instagram, and have included some of the images here:
The design of my piano was in honor of my sister. She died in June 2015. My sister's work as an interior designer aspired to increase people's quality of life. Sing for Hope work to do the same through their volunteer programs in music and the arts. The 2016 piano placement in the parks and neighborhoods of NYC also happened in June, so as I wrote my proposal for the project I was thinking about how I wanted to focus on joy rather than grief during that time of year.
In my regular studio practice, I join contrasting concepts to create a beautiful middle ground. This cheerful design - a juxtaposition of bold stripes and images of lush flowers - is based on the peonies, roses and ivy that adorned my sister's casket at her funeral.
My sister designed her beloved interior spaces in her own house with sophisticated pinks and greens so I reclaimed these colors in a mix of bold stripes and lush flowers - to make a jubilant artwork that will enrich others’ quality of life through Sing for Hope’s mission to make art accessible to all.
This "console" piano is a combination of personal grief and public delight, so my hope is that this piano encourages you to discover beauty in unexpected places - increasing joy in your own living space.
