The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent and the municipalities of Franklin, Saint-Anicet, Saint-Chrysostome, and Sainte-Barbe have officially unveiled a collection of decorated public pianos for citizens to enjoy.
Four inauguration events took place on August 7, 14 and 17 in the host municipalities, during which pianist Vicky Donnon played a festive repertoire delighting the multigenerational crowds that gathered to see the painted instruments and their protective housings. Artists Audrée Bourdeau and Manon Béatrice Gauthier were on hand to share the concepts behind their artwork which adorns the pianos, benches, and housings.
Citizens may find (and play) the pianos painted by Bourdeau in Parc Antoine-Labelle in Franklin and outside the town hall in Saint-Chrysostome, while Gauthier’s work can be admired at the Parc intergénérationnel de Saint-Anicet and the Parc municipal de Sainte-Barbe.
The project received funding from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent. The pianos were donated by Adam Antonopoulos, Robert Lamoureux, and Roland Bessette who also took care of tuning the instruments.
The pianos will remain accessible to the public until mid-September, according to each municipality’s schedule, and will return for the 2024 summer season. (SR)
