Beginning April 12th, keep your eye out for some unusual-looking pianos around town. Artist Luke Jerram is launching the L.A. version of “Play Me, I’m Yours”, a public art installation that features decorated pianos in public spaces. And yes, you can play them! 24/7! (They’ll have caretakers and plastic covers for rain, and they’ll be tuned throughout.) Designed to “foster hubs of creativity”, the installation will run until May 3rd, and is presented by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to kick off their celebration of Jeffrey Kahane’s 15th anniversary as Music Director.
The 30 pianos will be decorated by local amateur artists as well as muralist Kent Twitchell, Chicano art movement leader Frank Romero, Colombian American artist Frank Cubillos, and Chinese calligrapher Peizhi Yu with Son Qian.
On the first day of the installation, at noon, pianists at all 30 of the pianos will simultaneously perform the Complete Preludes from Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Find one near you for a free concert! The pianists will include Jeffrey Kahane himself, Grant Gershon, Mark Robson, Lucinda Carver, Rueibin Chen, Derek Bermel and even some local music students.
The 30 piano locations are listed after the jump:
Downtown Los Angeles
1. Bunker Hill: California Plaza
2. Bunker Hill: Wells Fargo Center
3. Chinatown Central Plaza
4. International Plaza, Ronald Tutor Campus Center, University of Southern California
5. L.A. LIVE
6. Los Angeles City Hall Complex
7. Music Center of Los Angeles County
8. Olvera Street: El Pueblo Historical Monument
9. Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts
10. Union Station
San Gabriel Valley/The Foothills
11. Claremont: Rhino Records
12. Glendale Community College
13. Old Pasadena: One Colorado
14. Pasadena Conservatory of Music
15. Pasadena Playhouse District: Vroman’s Courtyard
Santa Monica/Westside
16. Royce Hall, UCLA
17. Santa Monica: Annenberg Community Beach House
18. Santa Monica Pier
19. VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Hollywood/Mid-City
20. Hollywood: Egyptian Theatre
21. Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
22. William Grant Still Arts Center
23. 5900 Wilshire Boulevard: The Variety Building
South LA/Harbor area
24. San Pedro: Warner Grand Theatre
25. Torrance: Cultural Arts Center Plaza
26. Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club
Eastside
27. Boyle Heights: Los Angeles Music and Art School
28. Monterey Park: Atlantic Times Square
San Fernando Valley
29. North Hollywood: El Portal Theatre
30. Panorama City: Plaza del Valle
Image via Incubate Festival on Flickr
Piano at Union Station is up and ready to go. Please come and play, it’s very a wonderful building with wide opens spaces that carry sound beautifully!
I saw the one in PEDRO….loved it, all shells and stuff. Little did I know there was one in Torrance too. This is such a great idea–Art in Action, accessible to all. Brilliant.