Carteret, NJ – Mayor Daniel J Reiman, the Borough Council and the Central Jersey Arts Council (CJAC) will be hosting a program celebrating the success of the Borough’s pianos in the park program and honoring the local artists who participated. The program will include remarks from the Mayor Reiman commending the artists for participating in the program, a presentation on the background of the program, refreshments, and a bus tour to the locations of all the pianos and performances by local musicians.
“I have been pleased with the enthusiasm our residents have shown for our “Pianos in the Park” program. Every time I stop in a park, I see residents playing the pianos and admiring the artwork,” said Mayor Reiman. “The success of program is an affirmation of the importance of art and music to our community.”
The program was announced in late May and local artist were invited to submit designs for the opportunity to paint a piano to be showcased in one of our many community open spaces. The Arts Council approved eleven submissions, with varying themes including “around the world”, flowers, “scifi”, patriotism and steam punk. The inspiration for the Carteret program came from similar programs in Bryant Park in New York City, Baton Rouge, and Seattle. The purpose of the program is to showcase Carteret residents’ many talents while highlighting the borough’s commitment to the arts.
The borough acquired eleven refurbished upright pianos that were tuned, sanded, and primed for volunteer artists to paint. The artists were provided with supplies and a work space. Each completed piano was then lacquered and secured under a gazebo or bandstand to protect them from the elements. The pianos began trickling into the parks in the beginning of August with the final piano being installed this Friday.
Mayor Reiman commended the Central Jersey Arts Council for their collaboration with the Borough on this program. “The Central Jersey Arts Council has done a fantastic job of engaging Carteret’s youth and providing a powerful outlet for our residents creativity and enthusiasm, which would otherwise go untapped”. “It brings me a lot of pride knowing our community has so much talent.”
The pianos will remain in the parks for the rest of autumn and will be stored indoors over the winter months. They will be returned to the parks in spring having been rotated to a different location giving residents an opportunity to appreciate a different artwork. We encourage residents to check out all of the different piano designs and musicians to share their talents with the community. For more information on the Mayor’s Pianos in the Park program go to Reimanspianos.com. All residents are invited to attend the program and bus tour beginning at noon this Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Thomas J. Deverin Community Center, 100 Cooke Ave.
Here is a list of the different pianos, artists and the parks they reside in:
1. Around the World by Justin Rodriguez & Zoraida Rolm – Ash Street Park
2. Dibble and Dabble Creativity Center by Edith Gardener & Jezenia Mendez-Gardener – Banick Park
3. Tree of Life by Shelby Kappes – Carteret Park
4. Support Our Troops by Rachel Smith & Rose Vidaurrazaga (Carteret Ave Island)
5. “Historic Carteret Postcards” by Carteret Historical Committee – Civic Center Park
6. Flowers by Mayte Sota and Family – Shorecrest Park
7. Teen Advisory Board (TAB) led by Amaya Morales – Grant Avenue Park
8. CJAC Drawing Club by Adrian Vega & the Drawing Club – Waterfront Park
9. Steam Punk Themed by Brosko Family – Cornell Estates Park
10. Sci-Fi/Videogame by Raymond Laguer – Bishop Andrews (Chrome Park)
11. The Center of it All by Cynthia Abollo
