Even I know how to play "Heart and Soul"

Public art, like so much else that is generally cultured and worthwhile, must tread a fine line between seeming inspired and pretentiously pointless. On the way home last night, I heard about the “Play Me I’m Yours” project in New York City on the radio, and definitely feel that it fits into the former category.

British artist Luke Jerram has been sprinkling collections of creatively decorated pianos on the streets of major world cities and observing how people react. Some noncommittally tap out a few bars and move on, while others become wholly engrossed, playing recital pieces and improvising as they go.

This reaction makes complete sense. Despite not having ever taken any lessons, the instrument holds a certain sway over me. Growing up, I would sit at my parents’ piano and pick out tunes, key by key – simplified versions of movie scores and classical pieces, the Maryland Victory Song, and more. What is most appealing about the piano, however, is its accessibility. More so than with any other instrument, you can walk up to almost any piano – in the lounge of hotel, in a friend’s living room, or, now, on a street corner of New York – and entertain either a crowd or yourself, for a couple minutes or a couple hours.

Jerram was inspired to start this project by seeing the same people, over and over again, in the laundromat. Everyone recognized each other, but no one spoke. Assuming that these types of situations existed everywhere, he envisioned the pianos as a way to jumpstart conversations that might otherwise go unspoken. I only wish I had a reason to be in New York in the next two weeks. Maybe the next city Jerram chooses will be DC.

Down at the New Amsterdam

It's been a week now, that Dave and I have been in Africa.  We spent several days in Cape Town, where Sarah is studying, and managed to do a number of touristy things, including hiking Table Mountain, a tour of the Stellenbosch winelands, and a visit to Robben Island.  Since then, we rented a car and drove down to Cape Point and onwards (on the left side of the road) to the smaller towns of Swellendam and Oudtshoorn.

Between the quaint Cape Dutch architecture to the lush green scenery to "Mr. Jones" playing in the rugby bar, it has, so far, been easy to forget that we're in Africa and not Europe.  But then, we'll pass a sprawling, ramshackle township on the side of the highway, with kids playing soccer in the grassy shoulder and minibuses and trucks buzzing around, packed with commuters who hop off in the middle of the road and dart across to safety.  Or our car will be accosted by a herd of baboons, scuttling down the cliffside on the side of a mountain pass.  Or, when sitting down to dinner, we'll be presented with fascinating options such as ostrich steak (delicious), bobotie (delicious), and grilled crocodile (so so).

The sightseeing part of our trip has hardly begun, but we've already seen so many great things.  I can only imagine what we'll experience and learn once we settle into Zonkizizwe.  We actually met a pair of 19 year old Brits last night who had done something similar, for five weeks, and are now exploring several countries during their gap year.  They seemed to have had an amazing time.  I'm hopeful that, in a few weeks, we can say the same.