New Public Piano Headed For Serenbe

Play Me Again Pianos, a nonprofit charity dedicated to installing and permanently maintaining 88 public pianos throughout the Atlanta area, announced today its newest piano will be unveiled outside Grange Hall at Serenbe on Saturday, June 16, at 4:30 p.m. Play Me Again Pianos invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the piano named "Ida." The event will feature a brief performance from Serenbe community members, after which Ida will be available for everyone to play and enjoy.

"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.

Designed by Megan Schaeffer, Art Farm Director at Serenbe, Ida was painted by Serenbe community volunteers during their May Day Festival, a celebration of arts and culture. The atmosphere couldn't have been more perfect with visual and performing artists strolling throughout the community sharing their work and whimsy.

"The Play Me Again Pianos mission is right up my alley," said Megan Schaeffer, the Art Farm Director at Serenbe. "My family owns a small piano store in the Washington, DC area, opened in 1901 by my Great Grandfather and currently run by my Dad. Merging community and love of pianos is in my blood! Serenbe is such a welcoming environment for creative endeavors of all sorts, and when I proposed this project I was met with total support. Working in the arts here is one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had for this very reason."

Serenbe resident Tamara Schwartz, donated her beloved piano for this project. The name, however, was inspired by the piano's original owner, Schwartz's grandmother. In 1917, Ida Platsky was two years old when her father finally sent money back to Russia to bring his wife and young daughter to their new home in the United States. Ida eventually married an artist and settled down in Pennsylvania's coal country. While her husband Louis made a living painting basic colors on exteriors of other people's houses, he spent his leisure time painting beautiful landscapes on walls and canvases inside his own home. Money was tight, but Ida squirreled away what she could until she was able to buy a Cable Nelson upright piano in 1963. It became her pride and joy; the centerpiece of the home where family and friends gathered to sing boisterously at any festive occasion. The piano also comforted Ida in tougher times, playing sentimental songs about the loved ones lost along the way.

Ida is number fifteen of 88 planned installations by Play Me Again Pianos. Find and play their other public pianos at the Chastain Park Playground, Woodruff Arts Center, Colony Square, Dunwoody Nature Center, Chamblee Rail Trail, Ashford Park in Brookhaven, East Cobb Park, Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station, Cogburn Road Park in Alpharetta, the Egg Harbor Cafe in East Cobb and Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Sandy Springs. Additional pianos are in various stages of planning and development.

About Play Me Again Pianos

A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in Georgia in 2016, Play Me Again Pianos places, maintains and promotes public pianos to strengthen communities, inspire joy and bring people together through shared encounters with public music and art. Each piano is uniquely painted by a variety of volunteer artists ranging from internationally acclaimed professionals to aspiring amateurs and students. They are currently working to place 88 pianos throughout Metropolitan Atlanta. To find a map of Play Me Again Pianos installations, donate, volunteer or find out more visit PlayMeAgainPianos.org.

About Serenbe
Serenbe is a wellness community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. A neighborhood full of fresh food, fresh air and focused on wellbeing. This community is set among acres of preserved forests and meadows with miles of nature trails that connect homes and restaurants with arts and businesses. Serenbe's architectural planning sets a new standard for community living. For more information, visit Serenbe.com.

About the Art Farm at Serenbe
The Art Farm is an art complex that provides a place to bring people together in support of the arts, with the belief that art in everyday life can create a greater understanding of the world. Art Farm's vision is to be a nationally recognized arts champion and forum for cultural dialogue by creating a vibrant community of creative facilities & artist workspaces alongside the units of The Serenbe Institute of Art, Culture & the Environment. These spaces provide a serene, stimulating environment for engaging with the arts, located on 40+ acres directly next to the Serenbe community. For more information, visit ArtFarmAtSerenbe.com.

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