The smell of paint filed the air as volunteers from all over town painted pianos at the old John Brother MacDonald stadium in New Glasgow Saturday.
Paint the Piano will see these venerable and now brightly-coloured instruments placed at outdoor locations all over town this year for members of the public to play on through the summer.
The joint venture between Creative Pictou County and the Town of New Glasgow began last year, when a painted piano was placed underneath the tourism pavilion outside the Glasgow Square Theatre.
“They’d come by and play the music as they were passing in the street,” said Creative Pictou County board member Carolyn Bedford. “People enjoyed [it] so much.”
That piano was an instant hit, becoming a must-see focus of art and music in the downtown area. Since then, residents of Pictou County have donated additional pianos to the Town of New Glasgow as a way to expand what became a hugely popular local event.
This year, four pianos are being painted and will be placed at different locations around the Town of New Glasgow for the summer and fall months. Anyone is free to stop and play music on one.
Each piano is being painted according to different themes. For example, one instrument was given a coating of bright colours as part of a marine theme, an apt fit for the maritime and fishing heritage of Pictou County.
Paint the Piano was not quite ready in time for the Art at Night festival held on May 5, but Bedford urged the public to get involved.
“It’s for the community to come and join in and paint,” said Bedford.
One community member who heeded the call to paint was youngster Zach Walker, who was adding a coat of light-coloured paint to one piano.
“I probably enjoy the feeling of knowing it goes towards the community,” said Walker. “It helps them enjoy music like I do.”
He got involved after his mother, a fellow volunteer, suggested that he too come and help out with Paint the Piano.
