Pianos In The Squares Returns To Portland June 28

From the City of Portland: A few of Portland’s well-traveled squares are about to get more colorful and musical with the return of Pianos in the Squares.

Pianos in the Squares is a project of the City’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department, Portland Downtown, and Friends of Congress Square Park. Colorful, painted pianos will be available for all to play and enjoy in Monument Square, Congress Square, Longfellow Square and Bramhall Square throughout the month of July.

Join us on Friday, June 28 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for a free walking concert through four of Portland's squares, with professional musicians giving performances at each stop.

Schedule of Performances11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Monument Square - Kafari11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Congress Square - Genevieve Curtis12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Longfellow Square - Tina Davis and April Masse (duet)12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Bramhall Square - Anastasia Antonacos

Ethan Hipple, Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation & Facilities says, “We're bringing pianos out of their natural habitat of concert halls and recital spaces and into the streets and squares so we can enjoy all of the creativity that Portlanders have to share. Our hope is that these pianos will bring people together and create musical memories in our public spaces."

Pianos will be placed in the squares starting on Friday, June 28th. Each piano will be painted by local artists and adopted by a local business to keep it safe from the elements Local Business Sponsors include: Portland Public Library, Westin Hotel, One Longfellow Square, and Peloton Labs. Participating Arts Organizations include: City of Portland Recreation Summer Camp campers, Portland Library staff, Maine Access Immigrant Network, and the Art Department.
And a special thank you to Sherwin Young of Starbird Music and Piano Gallery for sourcing and tuning the pianos.

"This project is a reflection of the kind of generous artistic collaboration that characterizes Portland. Portland Downtown, Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department and Friends of Congress Square Park had a shared vision to enhance beauty, delight and well-being in Portland through these pianos, and that inspired dozens of people to help it happen - from painters to businesses to musicians," says Dela Murphy, Executive Director, Friends of Congress Square Park, "It's like a big gift everyone is giving everyone else".