NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloomberg briefly played one of the 88 pianos, which are a part of the world’s largest street piano installation, on Monday under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn. The 88 pianos are on display through Saturday.
Each piano was painted uniquely by volunteer artists, including many professionals like fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, as well as two high school classes. Just in case of rain, the pianos come with tarps.
One of the artists, Olek from Poland, decorated the piano Bloomberg played on with crochet, her chosen art medium.
“Some people can paint, I just crochet,” she said. “It’s more like painting with a thread.”
Olek’s technique involves watching movies continuously while crocheting without looking.
“I work so fast, and when I look at my hands I just get dizzy, and I can’t do it, so movies kind of also keep me awake,” she explained. “I can just work ... and keep watching movies for days, and weeks, and months. I watch about 8 movies a day.” Her colorful crochet designs can also be seen on bicycles, cars, and even people around the city.
Sing for Hope, a non-profit organization whose mission is to unite artists and communities to bring art to all, is the organization behind Pop Up Pianos.
Each piano was painted uniquely by volunteer artists, including many professionals like fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, as well as two high school classes. Just in case of rain, the pianos come with tarps.
One of the artists, Olek from Poland, decorated the piano Bloomberg played on with crochet, her chosen art medium.
“Some people can paint, I just crochet,” she said. “It’s more like painting with a thread.”
Olek’s technique involves watching movies continuously while crocheting without looking.
“I work so fast, and when I look at my hands I just get dizzy, and I can’t do it, so movies kind of also keep me awake,” she explained. “I can just work ... and keep watching movies for days, and weeks, and months. I watch about 8 movies a day.” Her colorful crochet designs can also be seen on bicycles, cars, and even people around the city.
Sing for Hope, a non-profit organization whose mission is to unite artists and communities to bring art to all, is the organization behind Pop Up Pianos.
“I was looking for them,” said Sienna, who lives in Times Square. Sienna and friends Charlie and Jessica were playing the one at 42nd Street and Broadway.
“It’s just for amusement, basically,” said Charlie, who is from Long Island and now also lives in Times Square. “You’re surprised what people know: you see them hop on there and start playing ... it’s like wow, you knew that?”
The pianos have been up in various locations around New York since June 18, including Central Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Town Hall, and the AirTrain Terminal.
The program will culminate on Sat., July 2, with a free concert at the Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center from 11 a.m. to noon, produced in conjunction with the center’s “Meet the Artist” series. Broadway star Tituss Burgess will perform, and other musical theater performers, as well as composers and lyricists, have been added to the show. The educational event will encourage audience participation, and is for all ages.
“I listen to everybody play, it’s nice,” said Mike Gomez, who was hanging out by the piano on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets.
While Gomez was there, a young man played “Let It Be” while Gomez and a family of five sang along. For Gomez, it brings back memories of when John Lennon used to play in “the Village.”
“I miss it,” he said.
The project, inspired by last year’s partnership between British artist Luke Jerram and Sing for Hope, was originally part of the creative global art initiative titled “Play Me, I’m Yours,” a brainchild of Jerram’s that has installed over 400 pianos in cities around the world, including Austin, Texas; Sydney; Sao Paulo; and Geneva. This year, Sing for Hope “wanted to do a project a little more New York-centric,” said Johanna Brickley, manager of development, over the telephone.
Since the volunteer artists each put hundreds of hours into the project, the non-profit wanted to credit them for this work.
“We’re always amazed to see these little instances. ... Just the joy that it brings to New York,” said Emily Walsh, director of operations, in a telephone interview. She said they have received really positive feedback, and talked about how she recently came upon a piano where a family of several generations were gathered around it, playing and singing.
“It’s just for amusement, basically,” said Charlie, who is from Long Island and now also lives in Times Square. “You’re surprised what people know: you see them hop on there and start playing ... it’s like wow, you knew that?”
The pianos have been up in various locations around New York since June 18, including Central Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Town Hall, and the AirTrain Terminal.
The program will culminate on Sat., July 2, with a free concert at the Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center from 11 a.m. to noon, produced in conjunction with the center’s “Meet the Artist” series. Broadway star Tituss Burgess will perform, and other musical theater performers, as well as composers and lyricists, have been added to the show. The educational event will encourage audience participation, and is for all ages.
“I listen to everybody play, it’s nice,” said Mike Gomez, who was hanging out by the piano on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets.
While Gomez was there, a young man played “Let It Be” while Gomez and a family of five sang along. For Gomez, it brings back memories of when John Lennon used to play in “the Village.”
“I miss it,” he said.
The project, inspired by last year’s partnership between British artist Luke Jerram and Sing for Hope, was originally part of the creative global art initiative titled “Play Me, I’m Yours,” a brainchild of Jerram’s that has installed over 400 pianos in cities around the world, including Austin, Texas; Sydney; Sao Paulo; and Geneva. This year, Sing for Hope “wanted to do a project a little more New York-centric,” said Johanna Brickley, manager of development, over the telephone.
Since the volunteer artists each put hundreds of hours into the project, the non-profit wanted to credit them for this work.
“We’re always amazed to see these little instances. ... Just the joy that it brings to New York,” said Emily Walsh, director of operations, in a telephone interview. She said they have received really positive feedback, and talked about how she recently came upon a piano where a family of several generations were gathered around it, playing and singing.
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