Second public piano installed in Chamblee
Play Me Again Pianos, a nonprofit organization, is one piano closer to making metro Atlanta “more musical” with a recently installed second piano in Chamblee.
Chamblee’s newest addition is called “Iris” and is located at Plaza Fiesta indoor shopping mall─4166 Buford Highway Northeast. The public is encouraged to use the piano.
Iris was designed and painted by eighth-grade art students from Westminster School in Atlanta.
“Iris underwent several iterations before finally being realized in her final state,” said Kristen Orsini, middle school French and Spanish teacher. “The students interviewed several vendors at Plaza Fiesta so that the spirit of Iris would fit in with the culture of the space.”
According to the nonprofit, the name Iris comes from the Spanish phrase for rainbow, “arco iris.”
Iris is a black piano with a red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple design and includes a bench.
“Street pianos and public pianos inspire people to connect with each other in ways that were once common, but seem increasingly rare. By adding our pianos to the landscape throughout the metropolitan area, we hope to nurture that connection into an evolution of Atlanta’s culture, community and the arts,” said Jason Brett, co-founder of Play Me Again Pianos.
The nonprofit plans to donate and place 88 pianos around metro Atlanta which represent the 88 keys of a piano. Iris is the 23rd piano to be installed by the group.
Iris becomes the second public piano to be installed in Chamblee. Irving, on Chamblee Rail Trail, was the first piano in Chamblee.
Other pianos in DeKalb County are Aragon─Ashford Park in Brookhaven, Bennet─Dunwoody Nature Center in Dunwoody and Millie─Donaldson-Bannister Farm in Dunwoody.
According to Play Me Again Pianos, home pianos are a rarity and access to public pianos can enrich the surrounding community.
