about those street pianos that are closing up today…

60 pianos = joy, for sure … how much hope?
I was between appointments in Tribeca last Thursday when I stopped to catch up on email and phone calls in the triangle park at Beach Street, West Broadway and Church Street, across from both the American Thread Building and the old AT&T building.  Over the course of half an hour, 5 or 6 people sat down at one of the two Street Pianos fastened (somehow) into the park. Have any Manhattan Loft Guy readers availed themselves of the opportunity to play one of these 60 pianos around the city, or spent any time watching and listening?

Play Me, I’m Yours: New York City 2010 installed the 60 upright pianos in public spaces around the city for public consumption from June 21 through today (sorry!), with volunteers who unlock the pianos at 9AM and lock them again at 10PM; the volunteers also cover the pianos in the event of rain. Pianos will be given to schools and social service centers some time after they close up today. Read the website for the artistic intention, for the times this has been done in other cities, and for the (many, many) media references.

The site also has pictures (some videos) from each of the locations, with comment about people who have played there, or listened there. The Tribeca Park page is here.

I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it was to watch and listen to random people interacting with the two Tribeca pianos. Cool. Totally cool. It makes the city a happier place, no doubt. I wonder hwy it was only two weeks….

© Sandy Mattingly 2010