Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts

Piano in the garden: pop up piano at Sky

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Photo courtesy Sky Nursery


Pop Up Pianos in Sky Nursery’s front porch

From the streets of London, L.A., and Vancouver, to our very own Shoreline, street pianos have emerged in the 21st century as a primary means of reclaiming urban space.

Altered and decorated by local artists since 2012, when the project was founded by Ros Bird, please welcome 8 returning pianos by filling our environment with music and song.

click for a map of the other Shoreline pianos



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Mystery piano vandalized - being removed by Parks department

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Shoreline residents near Shoreview Park have been tantalized by the sounds of piano music coming from the direction of the park.

Many assumed the piano was part of the Painted Pianos - donated pianos painted by artists which are placed in public spaces around Shoreline for people to play.

But no, according to a report by KOMO, this piano, which was badly out of tune, was placed between two trees in Shoreview Park by Shoreline resident Kaare Carlson, who told the reporter that "he and two friends used their all-terrain dolly to take the piano into the woods where people could enjoy it in a spiritual setting. He said it pains him to see pianos go to the garbage dump."

The piano had a distinguished history as it was last owned by jazz singer Greta Matassa. She had hoped to refurbish it but found that it was beyond saving.

Still, people were playing it.

A reader tipped the Shoreline Area News that the piano had been "horribly vandalized and pushed into a ravine." We contacted Dick Deal, Director of Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services who sent Parks staff to check.

The piano was not in the ravine, but it had been vandalized.

Deal said, 
"The mystery piano that a resident placed in Shoreview Park has been vandalized and is being removed by Park Maintenance staff. I was never contacted by the person who placed the piano so I don’t know who to contact. To keep it from being scattered and becoming a bigger problem, parks staff will be removing it.
"I am a fan of “guerrilla” art, but when it is not secured in place it unfortunately just takes one person to destroy the art for those that enjoy it. "
However, the  Painted Pianos are still in place through August. Here's the webpage and here's the map.


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Piano Time 2012 Performances August 3rd & 5th

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Coffee Talk piano, Judith Heim artist, at the Richmond Beach Shopping Center
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline
Photo by Keith McGlashan


Two performances are scheduled on the Piano Time instruments in the next few days.  Wander down to the Coffee Talk piano, Judith Heim artist, at the Richmond Beach Shopping Center on Friday afternoon and enjoy the sun while listening to Colleen Taylor play ballads, jazz and more.  She’ll be at the piano from 3pm – 5pm on August 3rd.  Taylor, who spends her days on staff at Shoreline Community College, grew up in a very musical family and has been singing and playing piano since childhood.  This performance is the second scheduled event in the Piano Time series during the month of August.

Wonderland, artist Heather Carr, at Central Market
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline
The third date is Sunday, August 5th when Beinuo Gong, a fine classical pianist from China, will be performing on the Wonderland piano, by Seattle artist Heather Carr, at Central Market,   Westminster Avenue at N 155th St.  Beinuo has been studying at Shoreline Community College this past year and will be returning to China later in August.  This is a great opportunity to hear her perform.

Did you miss Arts al Fresco on Thursday?  The performance schedule and piano location map is on the City’s website: 

For more information contact Ros Bird, Public Art Coordinator, 206-801-2661.


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It’s Happening Thursday, August 2nd - Piano Time Creations are Out and About!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Updated 8-2-2012 10:52pm

Shoreline Rocks, grand piano in the City Hall lobby by Seattle artist Kelly Lyles.


Eight donated pianos, decorated by visual artists, and ten sculptures on loan from the artists are now out and about in Shoreline.  The opening event is Arts al Fresco, on Thursday, August 2nd from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Shoreline City Hall and the Park at Town Center. 

Artists who have created fabulous artwork on these instruments are Ann Blanch, Lynn Turnblom and Sue Williams, Judith Heim, Jennifer Carroll, and KJ Bateman, all from Shoreline, plus Seattle artists Heather Carr, Kelly Lyles and Catherine Swanson and Edmonds artist, Julie Nagel. Keep your eyes out for bobble-head composers, a giant blue octopus, coffee-talk women, wonderland and café scenes, playful veggies, a jazzy design, and musical images from greater Shoreline’s past. Each piano will have at least one scheduled performance but you are invited to play gently as well. 

Jazzy Jive by artist CJ Swanson is by Darrell’s Tavern on the corner of Aurora Ave N & N 182nd St
Photo by Keith McGlashan

The Sculpture Stroll includes a diverse collection of work by Shoreline artist Jeff Tangen, Lake Forest Park artist Rodger Squirrell and five other artists from Gig Harbor to Bellingham including Michael Johnson, Thor Myhre, Lin McJunkin, Kevin Au and Leon White.  Five of the pianos and all of the sculpture can be found in the Town Center area and will be easily viewed Thursday evening. We hope you have fun exploring.

Octavia Rises by artists Ann Blanch, Lynn Turnblom & Sue Wallace
At Haggen Northwest Fresh (formerly Top Foods) across from Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Keith McGlashan

Well-known jazz pianists Bill Anschell and Deems Tsutakawa will be performing on the Shoreline Rocks and the Werner’s Café pianos throughout the evening.  Light refreshment will be served but you are also welcome to bring your chair, blanket and picnic on the grass at City Hall or the Park at Town Center while you enjoy some great outdoor sights and sounds.  

Maps with piano locations, artist information and performance schedules will be available at the event, and following that on the City of Shoreline website. Some local businesses near each piano will have maps beginning next week.  

For more information contact Ros Bird, Public Art Coordinator, 206-801-2661.


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Donate your slightly battered piano for art

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Street Piano in London
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
“Street Pianos” in Shoreline

Do you know a piano that has seen better days but would love to be painted and played outdoors? 

The City of Shoreline is planning its first “street piano” event for August 2012. Four pianos will be generously donated by Prosser Piano from its ranks of not too pretty, but still tunable and playable. 

The City is looking for two additional instruments in order to place six out in public, pedestrian-friendly locations. Visual artists will paint or otherwise decorate the pianos. The artists, and pianists who will play scheduled concerts, will apply through an RFQ process and be selected by a panel. 

At times other than pre-planned performances, the general public passers-by may tickle the ivories. The goal is to enliven our summer environment with the colorful sounds of music. 

If you know of a piano that might be just right for this project, email Ros Bird, Public Art Coordinator, or call 206-801-2661 with the details and contact information. The piano team will check it out for suitability.


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