Atlanta is home to an organization with inspirational ideas to unify the community. Pianos for Peace creates an innovative concept that incorporates pianos into an interactive outdoor display located along various public spaces in the city.
Pianos for Peace is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated towards changing the narrative of peace, by emphasizing the relevance of supplemental arts and music programs, as a means of inspiring and unifying people with music.
From Sept. 3 through Sept.18, the Pianos for Peace festival will showcase one of the largest outdoor art displays with 29 colorful pianos. The key purpose of the event, relies on the the power of music, art and education.
When people interact with the display their welcomed to play the instruments, schedule pop-up concerts and learn more about the logistics that went into making each piano.
Engaging the Community
Founder Malek Jandali and his peace team worked hard for the last three to six months to make the two-week display touch the hearts of anyone that comes into contact with the pianos, and curious observers are welcomed to play the instruments.
“The self-power of music, it’s different from any kind of art, because you can’t see or touch music,” Jandali said. “Music unites people, making the art accessible to all.”
After the event, all 29 of the pianos will be donated to community centers such as schools, health care centers, nursing homes and more. The volunteers, artists and staff members will participate in year-round programs, designed to engage people in the art of music.
“Music touches your heart,”Jandali said. “We want people to engage, [like] students, the homeless and kids in underserved communities.”
Public Interaction
Pianos for Peace utilizes music as a neutral connection to transfer positive messages for any demographic. Jandali passionately speaks about recent partnership between the organization and the popular public transportation system, Marta.
The ultimate goal, is to make the pianos accessible to everyone. Jandali and the peace team, look forward to changing the community while making history.
“[With a] huge team between artist volunteers and ambassadors, my aim is to have a piano in ever Marta station,” Jandali said.
With high expectations, the peace team is projecting to impact a vast majority of the city. As people go about their daily lives the pianos will be places in various locations, such as Marta stations, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Beltline, Fox Theatre, Georgia Tech, Spelman, Piedmont Park and many other places in Atlanta that receive high public traffic.
“We are trying to knit the community with unity,” Jandali. “We are doing this to transform communities, through music, and impact them so we can make positive changes in the live of children and the underserved community.”
Extended help has been provided from the artist, volunteers and even the city of Atlanta has been supportive in the event preparation. Some of the services maintenance, such as tuning, for the pianos are done by volunteers. At one point Jandali recalls police officers assisting with the moving process of a few instruments.
The Documentary
Towards the end of the outdoor display, a special portion of this year’s event will be provided by Ameer Muhammad, the Director of Community Outreach. Muhammad is a young filmmaker and former Georgia State Graduate.
Throughout the course of events, related to Pianos for Peace, Muhammad will create a documentary, highlighting impactful moments, in hopes to inspire others. The young filmmaker talks about how music unites and transforms people from all ages, colors or walks of life.
“The entire full circle will be documented,” Muhammad said. “ [It’s] something everybody can be inspired by, [because] it’s rare for a start-up [organization] to impact the city.”
A few of those highlightable moments comes from people like the volunteer artists that donated their time to create the hand painted pianos. Even with busy schedules, the volunteers made it possible for each piano to have special story behind the design.
“International artists, from all over, have painted these pianos. They have a nine-to-five [job], but they are coming to the studio and helping out any way that they can,” Muhammad said.
Another impactful moment is the partnership with the police department. The organization strives for bridging the gap between the community and law enforcement. Muhammad recalls reaching out the the police department and informing them about the organization’s vision.
“Their going around with us as we deliver pianos, and [some] have literally helped push pianos,” Muhammad said. “We are changing the narrative of police officers to ‘peace officers.’”
Influencing the Youth
Muhammad’s goal as a Georgia State Alumni is to ensure that students are able to gain exposure in the competitive market. The young filmmaker utilizes his own talents to conduct workshops that allow student to participate in the documentary process.
“As a student at Georgia State, I was always given opportunities, and I’m doing workshops to create opportunities [for] up-and-coming filmmakers,” Muhammad said. “It’s very important for me that Georgia State students grow, benefit and reach the goals I know they can do.”
The community and students have the advantage of making the piano project their own by joining the movement. Muhammad challenges the community to take advantage of opportunities that allow change.
“I would like for as many community members, students and artist from all ages, to take on this project as their own,” Muhammad said. “Be partners, join the movement and show your talent.”
Over the next few weeks people are welcomed to interact with the displays. For Muhammad the instruments could bring joy to the city as people get immersed in the power of music.
“When you have a project like Pianos for Peace you never know what’s going to happen,” Muhammad said. “We’re definitely [going] have this city really happy for the next couple of weeks.”
Piano Locations
There are 29 pianos located in various parts of the city such as the Fox Theatre, Avalon, Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta Station, Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport, Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech, Atlanta Beltline, Underground, Rialto Center for the Arts at GSU, MLK Center, Spelman College, Fulton Public Library, Marta stations such as: North Springs, King Memorial Five Points and others
An interactive smart app allows users to be apart of the display. The app has brief bios about each pianos location and the painting artist(s). There is also a feature that allows users set-up mini concerts and invite friends or strangers through social media, and watch them play.
This allows a greater opportunity for people to interact with the art displays. Available to download from Android’s Google Play story and iTunes for iPhone users.
For more information about Pianos for Peace visit the organization website, which offers details about the event and volunteer opportunities.
Amen, this here has touched my heart in a big way whereas I would love to see our people come together without all the extra negativity. I would love to be involved but first I need your help, whereas I live on Godby Rd. On Windsor Forrest condos at the the end of Godby which the bus 4 MARTA station goes the opposite way from which I live. whereas I don’t understand why the other end of Godby Road whereas we have the discount mall we have to apartment complexes Siara and Southampton Apartments as well as Windsor Forest condos, whereas it wouldn’t hurt Marta Bus The Rundown I would end up Godby Road as well.I feel like the residence on Godby Road needs more attention whereas we don’t get no services on this end for us to be tax payers. basically what I’m saying is our end of Godby has not been attended to first cleaning our streets I was so richest as well as cutting the city property grass.now I know MARTA bus station in k doesn’t go in all areas but if it turns down Godby Road what’s to the left what’s the difference with MARTA bus coming to the right side of Godby Road where it is only 2 blocks the opposite way with two long blocks with steep hills.I’ve been on Godby Road for 7 years whereas I’ve never seen all the streets clean I never seen the city of Fulton cut the grass because Creflo Dollar Church members cut our end thank God to Creflo Dollar. it’s unfair first to be residents as well as taxpayers and for me myself and other residents cannot see our streets even get clean the air stinks so bad whereas I would love to see them hire more people in the winter time to clean your arteries are located where is when the summer time comes and they regrow whereas we can kill the smell as well as to have our Sewar cleaned because I’m a faithful Walker everyday and I never said the sewage is cleaned on Godby Road on this end I’ve never seen the grass cut by the owner even if it’s the city that owns it because the owners of the apartment complexes in the condos whereas we need to write tickets for up on the city because I never South Fulton cut grass on this end nor clean our sewers all of the seven whole years I’ve been on Godby Road but you’re telling me that they can fix the street well hell what would it hurt them city workers to have had I was sewers cleaned before they lay concrete on the street. thank you and be blessed and the reason why I made my comment because peace starts within our City workers. because if they would keep up with what supposed to be done with our taxpayer money and do what’s right and then the people will Unite together and join in. the best way to unite is for everyone to do their jobs and to have the supervisor come out enjoy the job that was supposed to be done. that they’re alone wood Kingdom all of the mass and one more thing these apartments please believe me if I was the state inspector I will have a whole lot of water so maybe they need to start firing a lot of the city inspectors for these apartment complexes because Des offices I’m not doing no repairs no fix up to the property after the tenant moves in you’re as well as completing that 10 days list prior to moving in do list It Never gets done after the tenants moved in and if we can fight for our residents that pay taxes without always thinking that manager Office is right when their wrong as he’ll. You heard it from Me Madea