Own your environment!

Luke Jerram’s ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ project, in which decorated pianos are installed in public spaces – inviting the public to indulge the titular act – has come to London.
Thirty street pianos, in locations including the British Library, Leicester Square, Portobello Road, Tate Britain, London Wall and Millennium Bridge, now ‘belong to everyone in London’ until 13 July, when they will be donated to local schools and community groups.
‘Questioning the ownership and rules of public space “Play Me I'm Yours” is a provocation, inviting the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment’, Jerram writes on his website, http://lukejerram.com.
Barlines has been intrigued to receive a press release from the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) saying that five of its members will descend on the Liverpool Street Station instrument for an hour and a half, starting at 1.30pm on 3 July. Booking the thing out for professionals seems a strangely elitist thing to do to a project which is intended to question ownership and rules, and in the interest of artistic integrity we warmly invite anyone in the area to take ‘ownership of their urban environment’ at exactly that time and place in noisy and creative ways.
John Alley, LSO principal keyboard player, will be joined by principal flute Gareth Davies, violinist Sarah Quinn, viola player Malcolm Johnston, cellist Rebecca Gilliver and anyone else who wishes to partake of this piece of public art.

www.streetpianos.com