Artists Transform Pianos Into Eye Candy For The Community

Not only is this art visual; it's also playable.

Three months ago, Play Your City, a new art program, popped up in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Five Salvation Army pianos were transformed into one-of-a-kind masterpieces and displayed at area hotspots.

"Anything that is unexpected draws attention and gets people to interact," said Rebecca Bradley, co-founder of Cadence, which organized the event.

The pianos were covered in color and personality by artists Brian Buzzella, Luzalma Gonzalez and Richard Vergez, as well as students from the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale art school.

The pianos then rotated between Cadence, Brew, MOAFL, City Hall, Riverhouse, Radioactive Records, Huizenga Park, Trading Post, Riverside Hotel, The Archives, and Museum of Discovery and Science.

But this is no hands-off exhibition. The public is welcome to tickle the ivories.

"It was most surprising that you don't know how many know how to play a piano until there is one out for them to play," Bradley said.

After three months of traveling and public use, she said three of the five pianos are still in pretty good shape. Though, one experienced some sun and water damage, and the piano created by Vergez was stolen (pictured at left, by Joe Caveretta).

But all and all, Bradley said Play Your City has been a great success.

"The ongoing videos and pictures [the public] has shared through social media has been super cool," she said. "We've got lots of messages and emails thanking us for doing it and people are super excited that something like this came to Fort Lauderdale."

The program will come to a close July 27 at "Revel on the Block" in FAT Village Arts District. The four remaining pianos will be on display at the biannual event.

To take the place of the fifth piano that was stolen, Vergez will present an improvised and experimental performance based on pre-recorded tape of piano sounds, which will be amplified and further manipulated live through electronic means.

The pianos will not stop playing after their appearance at "Revel on the Block." The pianos that are still in good condition will go to yet-to-be-determined permanent homes.

Play Your City was made possible by Cadence – a full service urban design and landscape architecture firm focused on projects that reimagine the way South Floridians experience their outdoor living environments – the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department and Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/ftlplayyourcity.