Sarasota Keys returns with Five Points Park concert

The cool November air in Five Points Park was filled with the striking chords from the finale of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's rousing and popular finale to the "1812 Overture." However, instead of a symphony stacked with a league of orchestra players punctuated by cannonfire, the park was entertained by custom decorated pianos and paper bags filled with air popped in unison to the beat of Tchaikovsky's music.

This circle of public and collaborative ecstasy between five pianists, the five custom decorated pianos and the crowd gathered at Five Points Park is a defining example of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County's interactive art project "Sarasota Keys." Friday's mini-concert was to kickoff the second year of the successful public art installation which places a diverse palette of pianos in various locations around Sarasota for the enjoyment, visually and aurally, of everyone. Specific locations will be announced by the Arts and Cultural Alliance at a later date.

Six new pianos were added to the first year's collection of pianos with artists Vikotrija Bulava, Joseph Melancon, Jill Hoffman Kowal, Dennis Kowal, Rob Dempero and the First United Methodist Church Youth Group providing their own unique perspective of art and creativity on each new piano ranging from striking female figure, abstract expressionism to giant coloful flowers.

After pianists Joseph Holt, Stephen Fancher, Lee Dougherty Ross, Stacy and Rich Ridenour finsihed their Russian musical explosion with great fanfare, various adults, families, teenagers and children descended on the pianos to play and admire their adorned artwork. The sun quickly set on the park with the keys of each piano illuminating their special brand of light on the faces of interested players. If the night was any indication, as long as Sarasota has pianos to sacrifice to an artist's touch, "Sarasota Keys" will continue to be a success for years to come.