Piano. Push. Play. is a community art project in Portland, OR, where old pianos are rescued, painted by local artists, and placed throughout the city every summer for anyone to play. In the fall, the pianos are then donated to schools, community centers, and other places to be played for many years to come.
I had the honor of painting a piano in 2025. I was working on this piano design in June and early July - when I was eating lots of berries and remembering my grandmother, who loved picking fresh raspberries on her birthday in late June. My grandmother, Lois Rusch, was my first art teacher and is a significant part of my creative process - I now use many of her painting supplies in my own studio every day. She was especially creative about choosing surfaces or objects to use as her canvases, and I would have loved to be able to talk to her about painting a piano! This piece is a joyful celebration of summer that I hope sparks delight, connection, and music making.
Photo credit for concert photos to Henry Cromett