Find where pianos are on display: www.pianosforpeace.org
A quick glance, and it is easy to see that these are not ordinary pianos. The unique colors and designs of the instruments have a history behind them that promotes peace and will no doubt leave a lasting impact in the future.
Three Latinas from Georgia are among the artists participating in the initiative, known as Pianos for Peace, a non-profit organization which aims to promote peace and philanthropy through art, music and education. While the women’s artwork comes in a diverse array of designs, they all have a message in common.
“My piano features geometric figures that have different sizes and different materials, which represents the racial variety that exists on the planet. And despite the fact that all of these geometric figures are different, they all fit together to form one big unit,” explained Venezuelan artist María Zaa, with regards to her piece, ‘Quilt for Peace.’
A total of 29 pianos are located throughout Atlanta, in places such as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, MARTA stations, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Piedmont Park, Atlantic Station, Atlanta Beltline, Fox Theatre, Martin Luther King Center and Georgia Tech.
Those wanting to see the pianos for themselves should hurry. The Pianos for Peace festival ends Sept. 18. After that, the pieces will be donated to schools, nursing homes, community centers and hospitals, where pianists will utilize them to provide concerts and promote the arts.
For Uruguayan artist Marisa Cerban, being able to bring art to places where it normally does not appear is one of the most motivational aspects of this project.
“Providing people with pianos opens the door to possibilities, to not seeing them as something unattainable, to not seeing them as something for the social elite, but rather anyone can have access to a piano,” said Cerban, whose piano artwork shows her love for nature, which she hopes inspires people to see that, in the same way that humans protect the environment, they should also strive for peace.
For her part, Catalina Gómez-Beuth – whose piano captures her own work, ‘A Kiss for Peace’ – expressed her contentment that, through art, a significant message can be delivered.
“For me it was a way to be able to shine a light on the mission that we all have in our lives, which is to make a positive impact on others through any type of activity that we do,” said Gómez-Beuth, who originally hails from Colombia.
The three women also pointed out the significance of representing the Latino community in an event such as this.
“For me it’s extremely important, during this historic time in which we are living, to be able to show that we Hispanics come to do good things, with meaning, and that we can make a positive impact wherever we are,” said Gómez Beuth.
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