Painted pianos popping up around Rosemont
This story has been updated to note that Rosemont purchased four pianos and four others were donated, and the names of all the artists who painted them.
Eight custom-painted pianos will on display in Rosemont starting today as part of the "Pop-Up Pianos" community art exhibit.
Artist Rahmaan Statik and eight art students from Oakton Community College and Triton College spent the last month painting the upright pianos and associated wooden benches as part of a village-sponsored program that teams the Chicago muralist with student art apprentices.
The village purchased four pianos and Heavenly Pianos in Arlington Heights donated another four - enough for one per student to work on. With Statik's help, the students applied their various designs with acrylic and spray paint, then a layer of varnish.
Today is World Music Day.
The painted instruments - which can be played by the public - will be on display at:
• ACL Laboratories, 5400 Pearl St.
• Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road.
• Fashion Outlets of Chicago, 5220 Fashion Outlets Way.
• Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
• Parkway Bank Sports Complex, 27 Jennie Finch Way.
• Rosemont Senior Center, 6336 N. Kirschoff Road.
• Rosemont village hall, 9501 W. Devon Ave.
• Wintrust Financial Corp., 9700 W. Higgins Road.
The students who painted the pianos are Courtney Camp, Alexee Trino, Pesach Bercobice and Vianey Modica-Parra from Oakton and Otilia Carreno, Diana Carreno, Emily Temmer and Daria Gilmore from Triton.
The pianos will be on display through Sept. 30. Afterward, they will be donated to schools in the area.