Nurture the Creative Mind calls for community support with street piano project
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- People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
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- Every year, downtown streets of Ogden are lined with colorful pianos painted by local students, artists and youth from Nurture the Creative Mind.
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- Playing music on one of Nurture the Creative Mind’s street pianos in the summer is a special memory for many Ogdenites.
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- People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
-
- Every year, downtown streets of Ogden are lined with colorful pianos painted by local students, artists and youth from Nurture the Creative Mind.
-
- People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
-
- Hundreds of artists and volunteers have helped bring Nurture the Creative Mind’s street piano project to life over the years and music to the streets every summer.
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- Nurture the Creative Mind founder and Director Amir Jackson is calling on community businesses and groups to help support the street piano project.
Photo supplied, Nurture the Creative Mind
People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
The painted pianos that bring music to the streets of downtown Ogden every summer could be no more without the community’s help.
A post on Nurture the Creative Mind’s Facebook page reads: “After 10 years, 73 pianos, more than 250 artist and performer collaborators, NCM for the first time ever is asking the community to assist us in keeping the Street Piano Project going.”
Though Weber County RAMP has contributed a portion of the project’s cost over the years, founder and Director Amir Jackson said NCM has carried most of the expense, and all of the volunteer labor, over the last decade. “In order to properly execute the project, we would like to be able to properly compensate those artists who participate, contract the transportation, purchase decent pianos, purchase covers that can be locked to assist with weather projection, and storage,” he said.
The Street Piano Project started with one piano on the corner by Lucky Slice Pizza that was painted live during Ogden’s Harvest Moon Celebration in 2012. That year, the festival theme was “Impossible to Ignore” and NCM wanted to leave its mark — and it did. “The overwhelming positive response from that one piano being on the street led to the decision to continue and grow the project. It has been one of our organization’s main community service projects since,” Jackson said.
Growing and maintaining the project has been no small feat. “Over the past 10 years, hundreds of people have helped make this project a reality … whether transportation, painting, playing, so many people have chipped in one way or another,” Jackson said. “I am grateful for each and every one of them. Without them, there is no way this project would exist. It is just not possible.”
Photo supplied, Nurture the Creative Mind
Every year, downtown streets of Ogden are lined with colorful pianos painted by local students, artists and youth from Nurture the Creative Mind.
Every year, the painting of the project is a group effort by the nonprofit started by Jackson in 2007 that engages and empowers youth through the arts. Youth artists in the organization, along with local artists and students from local schools, turn old pianos into pieces of art.
But they have learned not to just take any used piano, most of which are purchased and some donated. “It has to be the right size and weight for transporting, in decent structural condition and must be able to stay in tune for a decent amount of time.”
Several people in the community have special memories of the street pianos over the years:
Erica McDonald painted a piano with an NCM student a few years ago and turned it into a planter.
LeeAnn Quinn Ballard said, “I was lucky to have painted a piano a few years ago- a lot of fun!”
Photo supplied, Nurture the Creative Mind
Playing music on one of Nurture the Creative Mind's street pianos in the summer is a special memory for many Ogdenites.
Jenny Rawson de Venegas, co-owner of the Local Artisan Collective, said they painted one a few years ago that was in front of their shop. “It was so fun to hear non-players, to beginners to experts. My favorite was when a big group of teenagers would be walking by, stop, play on the piano for a bit and then move on.”
Kathi Benson recalled watching a young homeless man sit down at one and play tunes — “It was an ethereal experience.”
Sometimes the pianos are a memorable part of something bigger. “One of my favorite memories with the pianos in Ogden happened August 2, 2014,” said Wendy Toliver. “Pepsi threw a big street party, starring a surprise singer, Phillip Phillips, honoring Karen’s Cafe, formerly of 25th Street. My son and mom sat at one and played it while we were there. It’s Phillip Phillips! The crowd went wild.”
“I’m pretty sure watching people play those pianos over the years while strolling around downtown was instrumental in my kids’ desire to learn piano,” said Stefanie Harrington.
“I am proud that our organization has been able to execute this project for a decade and it has been a privilege to bring smiles, joy and memories to hundreds of thousands, if not more, over the years,” Jackson said.
Photo supplied, Nurture the Creative Mind
People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
While the future of the street pianos depends on community support, NCM is here to stay. “As always, it is truly an honor to serve and uplift this great city. And even if we are unable to continue the NCM Street Piano Project, we look forward to doing so in many other ways,” Jackson said.
NCM is seeking organizational, business or group sponsors to assist with the financial obligation of the street piano project. Interested parties may contact Jackson at amirjackson@nurturethecreativemind.com.
Every year, downtown streets of Ogden are lined with colorful pianos painted by local students, artists and youth from Nurture the Creative Mind.
People have enjoyed the street pianos for years on Historic 25th Street.
Hundreds of artists and volunteers have helped bring Nurture the Creative Mind's street piano project to life over the years and music to the streets every summer.
Nurture the Creative Mind founder and Director Amir Jackson is calling on community businesses and groups to help support the street piano project.