Well, that was fun. Orange Juice blog editor Vern Nelson showed up at Downtown Santa Ana’s Artists Village today to tickle the keys, in the plaza by the Gypsy Den, as part of “O.C. Can You Play?,” an event sponsored by the Pacific Symphony.
As part of this event, 20 brand new pianos, which were donated by various piano manufacturers, were painted, by local artists, and staged all over Orange County. There are three of them at South Coast Plaza, one at the Great Park, one in the Artists Village and another in Fountain Valley – which is where I drove Nelson afterwards.
Nelson had great fun playing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” He also tackled Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and he played a bit of David Bowie’s “Changes,” just for me.
It should be noted that our friends at Downtown, Inc., were the ones who brought the piano to the Artists Village. They signed the agreement with the Pacific Symphony, got the permits from the City of Santa Ana, arranged for a local artist to paint the piano, and had it delivered to the Artists Village.
The piano has now been relocated to the foyer of the Santora building and it may be moved again in the next three weeks. We will keep our readers posted.
The piano at the Artists Village will be there through Feb. 6. Come on by and play a tune – and be sure to shoot some video and post it on YouTube.
Visit all 20 pianos for a chance to win 2 season tickets to a Classical, Pops or Summer series! Or just visit 3 pianos for 20% off your next ticket purchase! Click here to read more about that.
Bonus! Here is a friend of Vern’s:
I heard that this guy was there today, and heard great things. I think that he might be violating more than one city police ordinance though. I have had friends taken into jail for having intoxicated fun downtown.
Sorry we missed you! A lady upstairs of the Gypsy Den was not amused by the music. Poor thing was trying to sleep. I was worried she might call the cops…
Also, the piano has already been moved to the lobby of the Santora Building due to a complaint by Grand Central residents. Please let Vern know that he is certainly welcome at the next Art Walk or any time for that matter.
Upstairs of gypsy Den is Grand Central. I could be wrong though. Nobody is perfect right? How’s that whole feud between the city council and the department of community redevelopment going? I do hope that it works out for the best. Please keep us posted on the scoop as you find it. I am sure that you have noticed that the posts with the most responses are all of the political posts. “this is the dawning of the age of aquarious” sorry man I was watching truth flicks again tonight. Peace. Dude,are you the water carrier?
I nominate you. Even if my friends think that you are Fox News.
A Council Member told me it is a difference in vision, not a feud.
I will keep an eye on the story.