Whittier Square at Admiral and Lewis is a bit brighter and much more musical this summer as it is the recipient of one of 12 artistically-designed pianos located in outdoor public spaces throughout Tulsa.
“Play Me, Tulsa!” was created by Saied Music Company to provide a service to the community, encourage the arts and partner with local schools.
“We believe that art and music have the transformative power to unite, encourage and inspire. Our goal is to provide a fun and impactful way to foster community engagement in both art and music,” said Kim Koch, Saied music school director.
Kendall Whittier’s is located at Whittier Square on the sidewalk under the clock on the southeast corner of Admiral and Lewis. It will be available for visitors to play and enjoy until late July.
The piano, created by students at McClure Elementary School, features hundreds of handprints in various colors. Each handprint represents a “student’s pledge to support the arts by creating, learning and listening to others’ ideas about the arts.”
“As a Certified Cultural District, we love anything that brings public art – visual or musical – to the neighborhood,” said Jessica Jackson, director of Kendall Whittier Main Street. “This partnership with Saied Music Company for ‘Play Me, Tulsa!’ is a wonderful opportunity to make music accessible to everyone and support art in local schools.”
Twelve public school art departments were invited to design and paint an upright piano. The pianos were debuted and played at Mayfest 2019. Anchor Paint provided all the paint needed for each painted piano. Other locations include Gathering Place, AHHA, Jenks Riverwalk, Josh’s Sno Shack, Plaza Santa Cecilia, Brookside Collective, the Rose District, Cherry Street, Lacy Park, Boys & Girls Club of America and H.A. Chapman Centennial Green.
“From the skilled pianist to the child who has never touched a piano key, we believe that all people in our community will enjoy and benefit from playing ‘Play Me, Tulsa!’ pianos,” Koch said.
For more information or to follow the 12 pianos throughout the project, visit playmentulsa.com or follow the hashtag #PlayMeTulsa.
Kendall Whittier Main Street is a nonprofit organization that inspires the ongoing revitalization and growth of a historic and cultural neighborhood in Tulsa, striving to transform it back to a thriving, walkable commercial district. Kendall Whittier is a Oklahoma Arts Council Certified Cultural District.
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