Popular Program Returns with 10 Pianos in 10 Parks over 10 Days in July

SEATTLE, July 1, 2016 – The popular summertime Pianos in the Parks program is making a return engagement for 10 days this month. Beginning next week, 10 parks and public spaces across Bellevue, Mercer Island, Seattle, and throughout King County will host 10 artistically enhanced pianos for public play.

This year’s pianos will appear 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for one day at each of the following parks:

• Kerry Park Viewpoint (July 8) on Queen Anne Hill; piano title: Graphic Melody; artist: J. Adam Brinson
• Kubota Garden (July 9) in Rainier Valley; piano title: Galum Alux; artist: Ovidio Cartagena
• Sammamish River Trail (July 10) in Redmond; piano title: Love is in the Air . . . Chance Encounters; artist: Sophia Lael
• Golden Gardens (July 11) in Ballard; piano title: Talking at the Same Time; artist: Joseph Brooks
• Crossroads Park (July 12) in Bellevue; piano title: Paisley Piano – A Tribute to Prince; artist: Brandy Tomlin
• Westlake Park (July 13) in Downtown Seattle; piano title: Dancin’ Keys; artist: Barbi Leifert
• Luther Burbank Park (July 14) on Mercer Island; piano title: Crossings; artist: Cynthia Wessling
• Tolt-MacDonald Park (July 15) in Carnation; piano title: Sway Alive; artist: Cassie Murphy
• Chism Beach Park (July 16) in Bellevue; piano title: Imaginary Piano; artist: Karina Kudinova
• Alki Beach Park (July 17) in West Seattle; piano title: Nostalgic Tides; artist: Brittany Carchano

The complete park schedule is available at http://pianosintheparks.com/. For those wishing a sneak preview of this year’s pianos, all will be on display for public viewing from 7am to 3pm on Thursday, July 7 at KEXP (at Seattle Center).

New this year, each participating park will host a free daily musical performance – featuring the piano – from noon to 12:30 p.m. for each of the 10 days, along with other specially programmed activities in several parks. In addition to the 10 park pianos, a piano will be available for public use every day for the duration of the program at KEXP Plaza (at Seattle Center) – the piano title is Genius from the Void by artist Craig Cundiff. Ticketed passengers will also find a special piano titled Golden Ratio Piano by artist Eve Alyson at Sea-Tac International Airport’s central terminal greeting passengers flying to and from the city of music.

In addition to the musical performances, free activities are being offered at several locations including:

Gage Summer Pop-Up – a pop-up drawing activity featuring models, art materials, easels and artist assistance for anyone to experience art-making hosted by Gage Academy of Art from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (live model appears at 12:30pm) on July 8 at Kerry Park Viewpoint.

Instrument Making – an instrument-making activity hosted by Seattle Symphony on from noon to 1 p.m. July 13 at Westlake Park.

Instrument Petting Zoo – an instrument “petting zoo” hosted by Classical KING FM from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 16 at Chism Beach Park in Bellevue.

A complete schedule with times for each will be available this week at http://pianosintheparks.com/.

Pianos in the Parks, made possible by Laird Norton Wealth Management, is designed to encourage the discovery of parks through music and art by placing one-of-a-kind, artist-designed upright and grand pianos in parks for free public use and music exploration.

All 10 previously owned pianos are procured, repaired, tuned, transported and maintained by Classic Pianos; and are painted at Urban ArtWorks by student, alumni and faculty artists of Gage Academy of Art.

“We’ve seen how the placement of pianos in parks encourages the discovery and enjoyment of our amazing outdoor spaces,” said Robert Moser, president & CEO of Laird Norton Wealth Management. “Our local parks are vital to creating a strong and healthy community. At Laird Norton, we’re dedicated to help nurture and protect these spaces now and for future generations.

Laird Norton Wealth Management underwrites and manages the program with generous community support from partners Bellevue Parks and Community Services, City of Bellevue Arts, City of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation, Classic Pianos, Classical KING FM, Gage Academy of Art, KEXP 90.3 FM, King County Parks, PlayNetwork, Port of Seattle, Seattle Center, Seattle City of Music, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Symphony, Ten Grands, and Urban Artworks. Additional support is provided by Downtown Seattle Association, KCTS 9 and MICA (Mercer Island Center for the Arts).

For more information on Pianos in the Parks, visit http://pianosintheparks.com/

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media is invited to attend a private reception (5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 7 at KEXP (Seattle Center) to meet the artists and see the unveiling of this year’s one-of-a-kind artistically enhanced pianos before they appear in parks. During the event the pianos will be auctioned to attendees for their personal use – or for Sound Generations’ (formerly Senior Services) senior centers and Boys & Girls Clubs of King County – to be delivered following the pianos’ park appearances.

Media interested in attending should RSVP by contacting Randy Hurlow at randyh@206inc.com or 206-778-5523.

Photography and B-roll footage from the 2015 Pianos in the Parks is available upon request.