Artist Franck de las Mercedes Joins 'Sing for Hope Pianos 2015,' Now thru 6/21

Sing for Hope has announced that the Sing for Hope Pianos will return to New York City for the fourth time in summer 2015. In partnership with the City of New York and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, this year's program features fifty artist-designed pianos placed throughout the five boroughs from tonight, June 5-June 21 for all to enjoy.

Internationally renowned visual artist Franck de las Mercedes joins this summer's "Sing for Hope Pianos", a public art installation that brings that brings brightly colored pianos to the parks and public spaces of NYC's five boroughs for anyone and everyone to play. For two weeks this summer, the Sing for Hope Pianos-each a unique art piece created by a different artist or designer-will serve as gathering places in their communities, hosting impromptu concerts by professionals and amateurs alike in an open festival of "art for all" in New York City. After the two-week public exhibition, Sing for Hope will donate the instruments to the under-resourced schools, hospitals, and community centers that the organization serves year-round, enriching lives for years to come.

Franck says his "Post No Bills" piano is a celebration of the people and the arts of New York City. "Growing up in New York, I was exposed to the visual clash of graffiti, decaying walls, torn-up ads and the effect that time and the elements had on surfaces. Bright colors are an essential element in the piano in order to depict the diversity and fast pace of the city. I incorporated collage work using my photographs of street musicians and people working around the city. The piano also includes a "piano chords" chart to invite non musicians to play also. I'm hoping this interactive and participatory experience with the work can perhaps become gateway into music, the arts and learning an instrument." --FdlM

In the most recent iteration of this beloved public arts initiative in 2013, The Sing for Hope Pianos were experienced by an estimated 2 million New Yorkers and visitors to the city . In the words of Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora , Sing for Hope's Co-Founders, "From the South Bronx and the Rockaways to Staten Island and Times Square, the Sing for Hope Pianos have become synonymous with summertime in New York City. It is exciting to witness the spontaneous moments of community that occur around these beautiful, interactive works of art." The full lineup of 2015 Piano Artists and public locations will be announced shortly via singforhope.org. Artists who have previously donated their time and talent to the Sing for Hope Pianos include fashion designers John Varvatos , Isaac Mizrahi , Kate Spade , and Diane Von Furstenberg ; visual artists Julian Schnabel and Scott Taylor ; and media mogul Arianna Huffington. The 2015 Sing for Hope Pianos are being presented against the backdrop of a city more in need than ever of arts outreach programming. One in five NYC middle and high schools have no arts teacher, and lack of arts instruction disproportionately impacts low-income neighborhoods: over 42 percent of these resource-starved schools are concentrated in the South Bronx and central Brooklyn. The need for more arts programming is equally great in the city's healthcare facilities, as leading medical educator Dr. David Muller has stated. The Sing for Hope Pianos-and the volunteer artists who make them possible-reach these under-resourced areas year round. Funding for the Sing for Hope Pianos is provided in part by Sing for Hope's Founders' Circle, including The Arnhold Foundation in loving memory of Sissy Arnhold, The Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Foundation , and Ann Ziff . Additional funding for the 2015 project is provided by Sing for Hope's first-ever Kickstarter campaign and The Lulu & Leo Fund.

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