For nearly 10 years, Newton’s Artful Pianos project has placed colorfully painted public pianos across the city. Designed by local artists and enjoyed by the community each summer, this year’s seven pianos were set out by volunteers in late May and will remain until Labor Day. 

Lisa Rucinski, program manager for Newton Community Events and Programs, which manages the Artful Pianos, said selected artists typically have experience with public art, though most have not painted a piano before. After the initial round of a competitive application process each winter, selected artists are asked to submit a sketch for their proposed piano design. 

Local artist Emily Kwong painted a piano titled “In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb,” now located in Newton Upper Falls at the entrance to the Greenway. In an interview with the Newton Beacon, she said she has painted a few pianos before and likes painting murals that are attached to a saying or expression. 

Kwong got the idea for her piano’s design after an unexpected week of nice weather following this past winter’s historic low temperatures and snowstorms, during which the Artful Pianos project put out the call for artists. 

“It was just like this frozen tundra not even a month ago, and now it’s all sunny and nice,” she said. “We had really nice, nice weather that week, so I had this idea of the change of seasons.”

Artists have access to an art studio near Crystal Lake in Newton Centre where the pianos are stored during the painting process. Kwong said she enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside other artists who have experience with public art, especially when the cold weather made it hard to keep painting during the early stages of the project. 

“It was really nice having them there to talk about ideas back and forth,” she said. “I was lucky to have all these other artists around me that kind of helped me stay motivated.” 

Bruce Miller has been a “Piano Pal” for the last three years. Photo courtesy Lisa Rucinski

A team of “Piano Pals” care for each of the pianos, covering them up with a tarp each night and uncovering them in the morning if the weather is forecast to be nice all day.  

Bruce Miller has been a Piano Pal for three years, taking care of the one located outside of the Auburndale Library. A longtime Newton resident, he has played the piano since he was a child, which inspired him to get involved in the project. 

“I go down early, take the tarp off and play some piano,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. Great way to start the day, and then someone else covers it up.”

Miller said he plays a variety of music, including Cuban, Spanish and ragtime pieces. He added that he plans to buy a diary and place it on top of the piano for people to fill out, similar to a guestbook. 

Rucinski said people frequently reach out wanting to donate their pianos to the project. The pianos are vetted and maintained by local piano tuner Greg Livingston. The number of pianos placed each year depends on the number of volunteers available to help care for the pianos all summer. At the end of the summer, the pianos are donated. 

“​​We can’t put a piano anywhere where we don’t have piano pals, so we have to have the pals lined up before we assign a piano to a location,” she said. 

Rucinski said those interested in becoming a “Piano Pal” should contact events@newtonma.gov. 

This year’s seven pianos can be found at the following locations:

• “In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb” by Emily Kwong in Newton Upper Falls at the entrance to the Greenway 
• “Share the Spotlight” by Ryan Horton in Auburndale outside the Auburndale Library
• “Lightness” by Grace Statwick in Newton Corner at Farlow Park
• “Floral Symphony” by Nicole (Kiki) Garcia in Newtonville outside The Cooper Center
• “Lunar Life” by Lisa Kretchman in West Newton at Captain Ryan Park
• “We Dream in Color” by Alex Gerasev at the Newton Centre Green
• “Pollinator Piano” by Maia Shelby Hay in Newton Highlands at the Officer English Park/O’Hara Square

The Artful Pianos program is sponsored by Spark Newton, the Newton Centre UPS Store and the Celebree School.