PLAY DO PIANO
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Wednesday, May 22 to Sunday, May 26
Project Contemporary Artspace and other venues
Don't be surprised if you see several unusual and rather colourful pianos popping up at venues around Wollongong over the next few days.
At times they will be played by roaming professional musicians.
At other times members of the public will be free to plop themselves down and have a tinkle.
The pianos - of which there are nine - are part of one of the more unusual projects at this year's Illawarra Music Festival.
Play Do Piano is a collaboration between the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and several Illawarra artists.
The Conservatorium provided pianos to Project Contemporary Artspace, TAFE Illawarra, Studio 19/Exposure Arts and the Wollongong High School for the Performing Arts which let their artists loose on them.
The pianos will be displayed at Chifley Wollongong, The Regent Theatre, Wollongong Central, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong City Council offices foyer and Project Contemporary Artspace.
The GPT Group is holding a piano playing competition, open to everyone, on Thursday evening at Wollongong Central, which will be judged by Conservatorium CEO Andrew Snell.
Project Contemporary Artspace took delivery of its pianos earlier this week. The artist-run gallery is also holding an exhibition of music-inspired art.
Member Joni Braham said the project was an opportunity to collaborate with the wider creative community while attracting a new audience to the gallery.
"When people come into the space as part of the festival they will be able to listen to some of the Conservatorium's musicians playing the pianos. They will also be able to play the pianos themselves," she said.
"People can come into the gallery, do a fun thing and at the same time connect with the artworks that are here.
"We thought having that crossover between music and art would be a really great thing to do."
Turning the pianos into art has been a collective effort.
One of the musical artworks has been titled Homage to Chopin, the other Rainbow.
"We've got a couple of people co-ordinating the pianos and the rest of us will get in there and help out, be their apprentices," Braham said.
"It might be that the idea changes over the next few hours. You have to stand back and have a look at it - it's not the usual flat surface that you're painting."
Tuneful line-up
The Illawarra Music Festival combines world-class performance with community participation and includes free gigs, ticketed concerts and workshops.
FRIDAY, May 24
I Viaggiatori
Support by The Con Artists
City Diggers Wollongong, 7.30pm
A silent film about the SS Regina d’Italia accompanied by live music.
Daniel Downing – The Universal Individual
The Regent Theatre, 9pm
A cabaret show in the fabulous 1920s Regent Theatre Mezzanine.
SATURDAY, May 25
Daniel Downing – Workshop
Gleniffer Brae Auditorium,
Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 2pm
$40 general | $30 concession (for two-day workshop)
Learn how to tell stories through songs. Registration essential.
Ensemble Offspring – Between the Keys
Wollongong City Gallery
Workshop, noon
Performance, 2pm
$25 general | $20 concession
The free workshop explores making music using body parts, found sounds and made instruments.
James Blundell meets Festival Orchestra
The Regent Theatre, 7pm
$35 general | $30 concession
The nine-time Golden Guitar winner performs with the best of Wollongong’s orchestral musicians.
SUNDAY, May 26
Illawarra Sings Festival Choir Workshop with The Idea of North
The Regent Theatre, 2pm – 3.30pm
Participants will learn an original song in four-part harmony. Free, registration essential.
The Idea of North
The Regent Theatre, 5pm
$35 general | $30 concession
Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra
Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, 7.30pm
general $25 | concession $20
For more details and to see all the events go to wollcon.com.au/imf
