June 8, 2011
Fashion Designers Paint Pop-Up Pianos Throughout New York City
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 2 MIN.
NEW YORK - Sing for Hope announces Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos, a public art project presented in collaboration with the City of New York that will bring 88 pianos to parks and public spaces across the five boroughs of New York City this summer.
From June 18th to July 2nd, the pianos will be placed throughout the city to be played by all who pass by. During the installation, Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos will be cared for by partner organizations including local schools, hospitals, and community organizations. Upon conclusion of their two-week public residency, the pianos will be presented to partner organizations, enriching the lives of New York City residents for years to come.
Inspired by the work of artist Luke Jerram, Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos celebrate their year-round work in schools, hospitals and communities, and reflect Sing for Hope's mission of uniting artists and communities to bring art to all. The installation will be one of the largest public art festivals in New York this summer, and is expected to reach more than 2,000,000 people.
Highlights during Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos include contests, major concerts in each borough, and secret, "pop-up" events. Opening week concerts include a World/Jazz concert at the Louis Armstrong House in Corona, Queens, and a New York Composer Concert at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island, SI, both on June 18th. On June 21st, the pianos will be a part of Make Music New York (www.makemusicny.org
Sing for Hope is a non-profit organization that mobilizes professional artists in volunteer service programs that benefit schools, hospitals, and communities. Each Sing for Hope program is defined by the needs of the community, the service of professional artists, and our belief in the transformative power of the arts.
Artists painting pianos prior to installation include fashion designers Isaac Mizrahi, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade and actor BD Wong. Visual artists participating in the project include Olek, Scott Taylor, Adam Suerte, and students from New York Academy of Art.
Celebrities lending their endorsements and/or performances include Actor Adrian Grenier, Broadway Star Tituss Burgess, Actress Lauren Ambrose, and Sing for Hope Board Member Ren�e Fleming.
Key piano locations in each borough include Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, Times Square in Manhattan, Astoria Park in Queens, and South Beach Boardwalk in Staten Island. To see a full list of locations, please visit our website at www.singforhope.org
To receive up-to-the-minute information about Sing for Hope Pop-Up Piano photos, videos, contests, concerts, and secret events, follow Sing for Hope on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sing4hope
To learn more, please visit www.singforhope.org
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
