A group of people is enjoying a mini-concert in the most unlikely of spots. They are gathered around a piano which is literally on the sidewalk at the corner of State Street, and Victoria Avenue in Santa Barbara. It’s the 10th anniversary of a project which mixes public art and music, by placing colorfully painted pianos along State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
There are 11 pianos on different block of State Street, and a 12th is at Santa Barbara Airport. There’s two parts to the project: Artists submit proposals to paint the pianos. Then, they are installed on State Street, for planned concerts as well as impromptu performances by people literally walking down the street.
Money and support for the project comes from the Santa Barbara Bowl, the City of Santa Barbara, the Community Arts Workshop, the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, and the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.
Julia Rutherford Daily, who’s the exhibition’s curator, says the biggest rule about the pianos is a simple one: They are for everyone to enjoy. “Pianos on State 2019” runs through November 8th.