The inaugural “Keys to the Cities” kickoff party will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Lake Pavilion in West Palm Beach.
During the event, the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation will unveil 18 distinct baby grand and upright pianos, all of which have been whimsically designed – each with its own theme – by local artists.
A piano owned by late baseball Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter has gained new life by artist Frank Navarrete, who gave it a New York Mets motif and dubbed it The Kid, Carter’s beloved nickname. Artist Sharon Koskoff has reimagined a jazzy-style grand piano and named it Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Nadia Utto’s piano has an intergalactic look that would float perfectly through the new Sandra Bullock flick Gravity.
Art students at Watson B. Duncan Middle School and their teacher, Courtney Hess, have produced a funky Zentangle Piano. Artist Julie Beaumont’s spinet has a recognizable Florida wildlife look. And Eduardo Mendieta’s console sports a child’s face and is titled Overlook.
Additional piano-painting artists include Liz Brice, Caron Bowman, Karen Chandler, Joseph Dzwill, Silvana Frontera, Carla Golembe, Emmanuel Gonzales, Eric Kucera, Holly Rutchey, Alicia Stamm and Amanda Turner.
The official unveiling will be accompanied by an impressive 18-piano orchestra that included Robin Arrigo, Ruo Balko, Sandra Baran, Shawn Berry, Jerry Crank, Susan Dahlberg, Copeland Davis, Terrence Dwarika, Jan Fulford, Linda Johnson, Pat Johnson, Linda Jordan, Kathi Kretzer, Monte Lambert, Laurie McDonald, Betsy McHugh, Janet Owens and Michael Yanette. The musical event will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a mix-and-mingle with the artists and pianists.
Tickets cost $100 and benefit the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation. For information, call (561) 748-0036.
From Nov. 2 through 17, the pianos will be on display throughout the county. Among the locations where visitors can see – and play – the “artified” instruments are Arts Garage in Delray Beach, Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County in Lake Worth, Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens, Kretzer Piano in Jupiter, and assorted spots in West Palm Beach including City Center, CityPlace, Clematis Street, the Kravis Center, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, and the Lake Pavilion.
“Professional pianists and music groups are scheduled to perform concerts on the pianos while they are on display,” said Kathi Kretzer, founder of the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation. “Our main message is that everyone is invited and everyone can play.”
Cultural Council looking for Muse Awards nominees
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County has opened the floor to public nominations of personal and organizational excellence in art and culture.
The 2014 Muse Awards will honor winners in seven categories during an elegant gala set for March 13 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Nomination forms and details about the criteria are available online at palmbeachculture.com/museawards. Deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. Nov. 15.
Chairs Bruce Beal and Sallie Korman have chosen the theme “Fusion: A blend of two divergent ideas to make something beautiful.”
Award recipients will be selected by a panel of judges who include artists, community leaders, past recipients and council board members.
“The Cultural Council knows that Palm Beach County is rich in examples of cultural excellence, and the Muse Awards is a great way for members of the cultural community and its patrons to help gain recognition for artists and organizations leading the way among the top in the industry,” said Rena Blades, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization. “It’s Palm Beach County’s version of the Academy Awards, and we invite the community to be a big part of this very special occasion.”
For more information, call (561) 471-2901.