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Open Call – Keys 4/4 Kids – Pianos On Parade

Opportunity:

From June 4 through July 31, pianos will appear in St. Paul public spaces for anyone to play. We seek artists and designers to transform these pianos into works of installation art. Use any medium you want—paint, wood, video, recycled materials, etc., and base your design on a piece of music or other musical inspiration. Up to 15 artists and designers will be selected.

Pianos on Parade is a joint collaboration between Keys 4/4 Kids, a local nonprofit organization, and the office of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Together, the City of St. Paul, Keys 4/4 Kids, community and business sponsors will showcase the work of local artists and musicians and will coordinate events around these pianos that will optimize their presence throughout the city. Pianos on Parade will spur St. Paul’s residents and visitors to spontaneously engage with art, music, and one another, creating moments of community and highlighting the city’s exceptional commitment to music and arts. Pianos on Parade was inspired, in part, by the work of Luke Jerram, whose street pianos project Play Me I’m Yours has appeared around the world, including at the 01SJ Biennial in San Jose, CA. For more information, visit www.pianosonparade.com

Sites:

All sites are in the public and in St. Paul. Sites will be determined by Keys 4/4 Kids. There may be opportunities to work with artists to choose their site.

Attention Northern Spark Participants: the sites participating in the Northern Spark Festival are Mears Park, Rice Park, The Science Museum, McNally Smith, and The Black Dog Café.

Resources:

  • The piano is provided. Pianos stay the property of Keys 4/4 Kids.
  • $750 artist fee; additional funds for supplies may be made available depending on the medium and need.
  • Permitting and insurance as reasonable, appropriate, and possible
  • Recognition through the city- and project-supported publicity.

Parameters:

  • Create the work at Keys 4/4 Kids location on Grand Ave. in St. Paul from April 15-May 15. Keys 4/4 Kids has a warehouse of approximately 2,500 square feet at the back of their space. Keys 4/4 Kids will provide artists with access to the space so that they may work at any hour of the day within the specified dates. Some exceptions to the work site requirement may be possible. Contact the project director about this.
  • Incorporate a 5×7” plaque, fully visible, for title, credit, and other information
  • The installation can go beyond surface treatment of the piano, but the overall design must allow 5” of passage in the public space.

Criteria:

  • Artistic quality of past work; experience
  • Originality of proposal; creative use of musical inspiration
  • Ability to complete the work in given time and budget
  • Ability to create a fully playable, safe, securable, and maintainable work appropriate for the public realm for the 2-month duration of the festival

To apply, please email the following by Thursday, March 31, 5pm:

  • *Completed cover page (see details below)
  • *No more than 6 images, low resolution if sending via e-mail.
  • *Resume/bio, no more than 2 pages
  • *Project proposal, no more than 300 words
  • *Artists will be announced by April 11 on the project website.

Contact:

Kelsey Shanesy, Project Director and Keys 4/4 Kids Site Manager

Keys44kids@gmail.com; 651-698-3280

www.pianosonparade.com

APPLICATION COVER PAGE

Name:
Address/City/Zip:
Phone:
Email:
Website:

Images–
1. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

2. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

3. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

4. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

5. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

6. Title, medium, size, year, additional description:

Are you able to complete the project at the Keys 4/4 Kids location and within the April 15-May 15 time frame? Y or N

Are you able to complete the project within the $750 artist fee? Y or N

If your medium and ideas require additional funds for supplies, please tell us about it, and how much would these supplies cost?

What piece of music or other musical inspiration will be the basis of your work?

Tell us about your proposed work—its design, materials, color, preferred sites, and other concepts—in 300 words or less.