March 12, 2020

Project Highlight - Pianos About Town

When we speak of customization, one particularly noteworthy project comes to mind. It is a project where art, culture, community and a sense of whimsy all come together in an inspiring way. By combining local art and musical spontaneity, the streetscapes of Fort Collins, CO become a memorable place to visit as a result of the Pianos About Town program.

A pianist stops to play while sitting on an Olivia laser cut chair

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

Pianos About Town started in 2010 as a collaboration among Bohemian Foundation, the Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places program. Starting with donated pianos, community members are able to watch in real time as local artists paint and transform the pianos into public works of art. Once finished, the pianos are installed and rotated throughout various locations around town. Pianos are even painted in the winter months at indoor venues to allow for year-round creative enjoyment. They not only offer a visual stopping point to appreciate the art, but they welcome pedestrians to pause and make their own music or simply to listen to others.

A pause in the day to enjoy some music on an Olivia Chair

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

Colorful artwork on piano with Olivia Chair

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

To offer the perfect accompaniment, Keystone Ridge Designs has provided our Olivia chairs customized with a laser cut treble clef design. These musical chairs invite passersby to sit down, play a tune and create an impromptu concert. The Olivia chair is an ideal solution that is both durable enough to withstand frequent outdoor use and lightweight enough for pedestrians to easily move into place as they prepare to tickle the ivories of the beautifully-painted pianos.

An Olivia Chair and piano in front of a wall mural

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

Practicing piano outdoors for a change on an Olivia Chair

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

Over the years, the Olivia chair and table set have proven to be great options to accentuate similar creative themes across the country, showcasing such custom laser-cut designs as coffee mugs, trees, logos or awareness ribbons as well as unique KeyshieldArt™ full-color graphics.

An artifully decorated piano and Olivia laser cut Chair are ready for use

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

A couple of future piano players exploring the world of music

Photo Credit: Bohemian Foundation

Customization projects like this one are always music to our ears, but we give a full standing ovation to the collaborators involved in Fort Collins, CO for this innovative idea to support the arts and engage the community. With over 100 pianos that have been in the program to date, we encourage you to follow Pianos About Town on Facebook and Instagram for more examples of these artistic creations.

ARCHIVES

Top