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Painted Pianos – Graffiti or Art?

28/8/2016

33 Comments

 
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We used to live in Gloucester, the County capital of the Cotswolds which is an area considered to be quintessentially English.  One lunchtime, whilst enjoying a gingerbread latte at my favourite Coffee #1 hangout, all of a sudden I heard a piano playing on the high street. A piano? A real piano? Not a pack-up-and-go sythesizer but a REAL piano, how on earth did a busker transport a real piano??  

But it wasn’t a busker, it was an ordinary passer-by who had stopped to play “The Entertainer” on a colourfully painted piano randomly stationed on the street. My curiosity got the better of me and I needed to have a closer look. Upon inspection a plaque invited me to “Tickle my ivories. Have a go at playing this piano decorated by students at Gloucestershire College”. 

Tickle my Ivories
There are a total of 6 creatively painted pianos dotted around Gloucester centre as part of the SOMAC (Summer of Music, Arts and Culture) Festival organised by “Marketing Gloucester”. Their aim is to raise the city’s profile locally and nationally as a great place to live, work, study and visit.  The artistic pianos will be around until the end of August giving people plenty of time to join in on the “Piano trail”; every-day people are welcome to have a go!

All pianos started out as the ordinary brown wooden type and were kindly donated from homes and companies throughout the Country. They were transported to Gloucestershire College where they took on a new lease of life – and suddenly, these plain old pianos were spruced up and painted in an array of colours allowing the students’ creative flair to shine through for all to admire. Personally, I love this idea!! I love that a project has taken something “ordinary” and turned it into a piece of art – I guess the marketing has worked on me!

All pianos are located away from residential areas and are locked after 5pm each evening to ensure budding out-of-key musicians aren’t arrested for disturbing the peace (only joking, it is to ensure people aren’t disturbed).

What I love about this idea, is how it brings strangers together. I watched as two people who had never spoken before jointly attempted to replicate a famous piece that required two people. Apparently, this isn’t the first time this has been witnessed! They were reminiscing of their piano-playing days, laughing and joking, it was lovely to watch. As I took my photographs, I witnessed all walks of life tinkering, from young children to the older generation.

Who would have thought that something so simple could bring people together?  But then again, that’s generally what music does isn’t it!
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Music can really bring people together! Two strangers joined together here to play "Chopsticks"
I telephoned Marketing Gloucester purely because I was being lazy and wanted to know all the piano locations. I had a wonderful chat with them and I was told of so many lovely stories of the pianos being played, including one of a gentleman who sat down and started to play, even though he hadn’t done so for years. It appears that all their hard work and aim is paying off – to inspire and to bring art, culture and most of all people together.

Have you been impressed by an art project like this? Get in touch and let me know!

Northgate Street:
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Southgate Street:
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Eastgate Street:
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Westgate Street:
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King's Walk Shopping Centre:
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Market Parade:
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A selection of some of the street art painted for the SOMAC festival displayed in the City Centre.
Painted car
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​One last photo ... Gloucester's most iconic attraction - the Cathedral! I spend lunch breaks on a sunny day with this view - not bad huh!
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Painted Pianos - Graffiti or Art? A blog by FeetDoTravel

This post is part of a link-up in #TheWeeklyPostcard and #WeekendWanderlust.  Feel free to click on the pictures below to read other fabulous travel blogs - perfect for more inspiration!
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Two Traveling Texans
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33 Comments
Arnie Jacobsen link
27/8/2016 12:48:40 pm

I don't care to classify this as anything other than terribly fun! Love them!

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FeetDoTravel
27/8/2016 02:39:31 pm

Lol yes I had a lot of fun searching for the pianos and taking the photos :-) Glad you enjoyed looking at them!

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Jm link
27/8/2016 02:49:25 pm

Art plus another form of art equals to a masterpiece. These are definitely awesome form of arts. Love the colourful pianos and i would like to try them all.

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:36:25 am

I love your description of art - you are so right! Glad you also thought they were awesome :-)

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Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) link
27/8/2016 03:11:34 pm

What a fantastic idea! The painted pianos are great, but putting them out for people to stop and play is really clever. Rob plays a little, and says it's great stress relief. So this doesn't just look nice and sound nice, maybe it's therapeutic, too!

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:37:43 am

Yes I thought it was clever to put them out to play - great idea who ever came up with this and I hope their marketing strategy worked :-)

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Anisa link
27/8/2016 06:20:39 pm

This is great. Love that they combine music and art! I seen different themes of public art throughout various cities but this one may be my favorite. Thanks for sharing with #TheWeeklyPostcard!

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:44:58 am

Thanks Anisa and it's interesting that this is your favourite form of street art - this has encouraged me to seek more out on my travels :-)

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Anda link
27/8/2016 10:53:46 pm

I love the idea of having painted pianos! Some of these look great, indeed. If you have children and want them to play piano, what better way to attract them to the instrument but painting those cute bunnies on the piano?

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:48:37 am

I never thought of that but yes, this is an inspirational way of attracting your child to play an instrument! Cool street art like this is the way forward!

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Lyn - A Hole in my Shoe link
27/8/2016 11:59:15 pm

You have just given me another reason to get to Gloucester. Other than it is where my husband was born and lived the first formative years of his life, I love street art and second to that is music. I also love quirky things so now I know I'm going to love to Gloucester... and then there's that gorgeous cathedral, such a contrast and I'm sure it is simply stunning inside.Thank you so much for sharing with us at #TheWeeklyPostcard

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:51:28 am

Come to Gloucester and then explore the Cotswolds :-) If you love street art and music this is definitely perfect for you! It's opened my eyes to street art and I will actively be seeking it out now. The cathedral is stunning inside - part of it was used for filming in the early Harry Potter movies!

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Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields link
28/8/2016 01:40:09 am

We have seen colourful street pianos quite a bit on our travels. I love them and when someone stops to play one they always gather a friendly audience.

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:52:49 am

Someone else has said they have seen painted pianos before - I'm jealous lol. This is inspirational and I want to see more and to hear someone that can play, well, it's just beautiful and stops you in your tracks doesn't it.

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Cathy link
29/8/2016 03:42:52 am

I love street art and I love this! What a great way to bring music to the community. A win win situation in my book!

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:47:10 am

It is a great way to bring the community together isn't it - something that starts out as idea has been spectacularly brought to life here! Definitely a win-win :-)

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Michelle | michwanderlust link
30/8/2016 01:59:13 am

This is such a cool idea! There is indeed something about music that brings people together, even perfect strangers. It doesn't hurt that the pianos are so beautifully decorated too. I haven't been to the Cotswolds but it sounds awesome :)

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FeetDoTravel
30/8/2016 08:46:06 am

I love that music brings strangers together, regardless of how it's done and I think this idea demonstrates it perfectly! I agree, I think the students did a fantastic job of painting them :-)

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Barry link
1/9/2016 06:08:22 pm

Looks like a lot of fun. Wish they did something like this where I grew up - having said that I cant play the piano :)

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FeetDoTravel
2/9/2016 07:41:13 am

Yes it does look fun doesn't it - the funny thing is, I was too busy watching other people and enjoying taking photos that I didn't tickle the ivories ... probably because I also can't play the piano lol

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Clair Kelly link
2/9/2016 09:06:53 am

Definitely Art! I actually love this!!

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 07:53:18 am

I agree Clair ... it's definitely art and I'm glad you love it :-)

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David link
2/9/2016 01:31:37 pm

That's some really neat street art, I always love searching out street art when I visit places. I've seen the public piano a few times in different cities and it's such a wonderful idea. You're right, it does bring people together and you often find some incredibly talented musicians on them. Fun! #FeetDoTravel

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 08:01:23 am

It is neat isn't it - oh to be able to paint like that! I will be seeking more street art now that my eyes have been opened, the colourful displays cheer up drab areas in such a creative way :-)

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Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler) link
2/9/2016 02:44:39 pm

I love this article. Street art is so awesome and how it was incorporated with the pianos is amazing. What a way to bring people together. So glad you did a little exploring after your coffee. Your great pictures put us there and gave a feel for what you must have experienced. Thanks for sharing!

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 08:00:00 am

So glad you agree Stephanie that the incorporation of art and pianos is amazing, I thought so too and was captivated - I made it my mission to seek them all out lol. Thank you for your comments and glad you enjoyed my experience :-)

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Travel Lexx link
2/9/2016 09:44:04 pm

Such an awesome way to get the community engaged. There was a similar project in Melbourne and it was great watching people just walking up to the pianos and playing and smiling to themselves. Definitely something we need more of today! Love the pics and, as you can probably guess, I have never been to Gloucester!

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 07:58:38 am

I sincerely hope I get a chance to see this project again somewhere in the world so I can watch people play again - maybe we should start a project for London :-) As for never having been to Gloucester, if you do make it to Cheltenham on your Cotswolds jaunt, it's only just down the road :-)

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Garth link
3/9/2016 10:09:36 am

Love this idea, infact I would like to have a go at painting one of those pianos! Me and Phil have seen this idea before - at an airport - but I can't remember which one, I think it may have been Charles De gaulle, but not sure. They had a couple of pianos (not painted) in the departure lounges for people to play ... the kids were annoying but i remember one guy was brilliant and entertained all the passengers, and then left for his gate...

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 07:56:48 am

Oh I never thought of that Garth - having a go at painting one of the pianos!!! Now THAT would be soooooo much fun (even though I can't paint lol) Ha ha, yes watching the kids bash the keys did get a little annoying I will confess but when someone comes along that can play, well, it's definitely music to my ears :-) Glad you had that experience before the gentlemen disappeared ...

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Lisa link
3/9/2016 01:07:46 pm

Hi Angie...another reason to visit your area. Music & food always seem to bring people together. This was a great idea and just looks like fun! That Cathedral is not too shabby either(haha)..would love to see inside.

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FeetDoTravel
4/9/2016 07:54:40 am

It was so much fun Lisa and you're right - music (and food) does bring people together. Lol yes the Cathedral isn't too shabby at all and the inside is magnificent :-)

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Vyjay link
7/9/2016 04:47:36 am

This is a really unique and wonderful concept. It not only adds colour to the neighborhood but also enlivens the atmosphere. it is prudent that the pianos are locked after sundown to discourage the misuse of these instruments of music. The street art too is really colourful and vibrant.

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