rePIANO PROJECT STIRS IMAGINATIONS

Pianos Placed Throughout Reno, Nev. Inspire a Community

Interviews, Video and Photograph Opportunities Available

RENO, NEV. – What started out as a way to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Artown festival in Reno, Nev., has become a source of inspiration throughout the community. The rePIANO project brought 15 artistically embellished pianos to locations throughout the city for the entire month of July, and since the first placement they’ve attracted hundreds to play and photograph them and share videos of their rePIANO experiences.

Local homeless man Marcus Jams has inspired numerous people while playing a piano in central downtown. His story has been shared on blogs and in newscasts locally. The project’s Facebook page has also filled with videos, including this one of local Billy Howard, and photos ranging from snapshots to artistically embellished glamour shots of the pianos.

Reno City Councilman and rePIANO organizer Dave Aiazzi and artists talked about the project during a session just before the pianos were placed in this video.

The used pianos, purchased through grant funding from Artown and with the assistance of Steinway Piano Gallery in Reno were housed in The Salvagery, a downtown warehouse, throughout June as local artists decorated each with a different theme. Artists include Mallory Mishler, Derek McDonald, Danny Collazo and Artown Executive Director Beth Macmillan, just to name a few. Artists used paint, ceramics and mosaics to individualize each instrument.

Artown, a 31-day celebration of arts and culture held each July in Reno, combines music, theater, dance, visual arts and multicultural and family events for what’s considered one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive arts and culture festivals. For more information on Artown, visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call the office at 775-322-1538.

Honored by the National Endowment for the Arts with the Access to Artistic Excellence grant for two consecutive years, Artown is one of the nation’s most comprehensive arts and culture festivals attracting more than 300,000 people in 2009 for a plethora of events with more than 60 percent offered free to the public. With more than 100 partners, the month-long festival takes place at venues citywide. Artown receives major funding from the City of Reno, is sponsored by U.S. Bank, Grand Sierra Resort, NV Energy, International Game Technology, Waste Management, Reno-Tahoe USA, JLH Inc., Basin Street Properties, Reno Gazette-Journal, KOLO 8 News Now, KTHX-FM and KNPB with additional support from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Artown is supported by Stimulus Funding through the Nevada Arts Council’s SNAP Grant Program.

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