Play Me, I'm Yours!: Street Pianos Norfolk

 Play Me, I'm Yours! In the last few days, pianos with this written on them have started popping up all over downtown Norfolk. Each one decorated and painted in a different way. The piano in the food court of MacArthur Center is done in bold blocks of color. The one in front of the Moses Myers House is decorated to look like a small replica of the house, complete with a mirrored fanlight in the roof.

Play Me, I'm Yours is also the name of Luke Jerram's public art project. This traveling exhibit has visited 55 other cities around the world, including London, Paris, Boston, and Munich. The purpose of the project is to encourage people to "take ownership of their urban environment" and encourage people to connect with each other.

We took the kids downtown this weekend to hunt out a few of the pianos. By parking at MacArthur Center we could walk and visit the ones at Slover Library, Moses Myers House, and MacArthur Square. The kids enjoyed picking out melodies and making up their own songs, and also listening to the talented other pianists waiting to perform. Some people had brought guitars to play along and some were singing along. Others were lifting up the lid of the piano to see the inner strings and hammers. Even the babies enjoyed taking their turn at the keys.

I think this was a wonderful project. Not only did it get us out and about on a beautiful day, chatting to strangers, but it got our older kids interested in piano. Anouk has asked for lessons and ever since we have been listening to a lot of piano music and talking about it. Being able to sit and play whatever you want in a special space is empowering -- not only for kids but for anybody!

The pianos will be in their spots through June 4. Click here for a map of where to find them all.