play me, I’m yours

While looking for some information on Max Neuhaus (who unfortunately passed away last year) I stumbled on the very good blog Audible Affinities. Matt Marble apparantly stopped blogging last summer. His latest post was on a Luke Jerram project I haven’t heard from before. Here’s the post from Audible Affinities:

A recent New York Times article made me aware of the work of Luke Jerram. Since March of 2008, this Bristol artist has been planting pianos in public spaces in major metropolitan areas, most recently throughout London. Luke collected discarded and used pianos, decorated them, and inscribed the name of the project “Play me I’m Yours” on their body and/or keys. Passersby find themselves with a private moment of musical play or a spontaneous concert. On a google search images and videos abound.

Luke’s project is similar to David Byrn’s recent Playing the Building 2008 project at the Battery Maritime Building in New York.

In both cases the artists have set up a context of possibilities, open to and encouraging public interpretation. While Byrns project relies on the novelty of his instrumental extension of the piano interface, Jerram relies on the original placed in novel contexts. Jerrams work is unique in the generation of personal performances and documentation that have followed from it (Seed Work). Where Byrns project evades more immediate stylistic interpretations to feature the playful enjoyment of the building itself as it is played, Jerrams pianos beckon for the diversity of styles that can be brought to a familiar instrument.