Project Forte

JNSA’s Painted Piano Project

The latest piano in the series, painted by Francie Klopotic and commissioned by JNSA and the Porter Fleming Foundation was dedicated on March 20th, 2024. It is available to play and view at Augusta University’s Summerville Campus.

Originally called Project Forte, JNSA’s Painted Piano project puts musical and visual arts in the hands of the community. Inspired by research on the public art plan initiated by the Greater Augusta Arts Council in 2013, the project officially began in 2018. The initial pianos were donate by James Garvey of St. John United Methodist Church. Between this initial donation and an art show by artist Troy Campbell created from a deconstructed piano, the piano project was set into motion, resulting in a total of 12 pianos painted and installed in various locations in the community since 2018, including the outside of our main campus building at 739 Greene Street.

The first piano installed outside of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Donated and Painted by Carmen Moses.

“Our building was nondescript”, Gary Dennis, JNSA’s Executive director explains, “…It seemed that very few people knew that we have a full 6 subject art school behind our gold and blue walls. The pianos were the first attempt to turn our creativity outward and create the question, ‘what happens there?’ …I feel like the act of creating work and opportunity for artists was JNSA living our principles. Mainly that art has value, that we should actively look for ways to create paid opportunities for artists and that we should contribute to that. We tell our kids that they can make a living in the arts. We should support that notion.”

Future of the Project

There are more pianos and artists lined up, stay tuned!

“The biggest hurdle in continuing to create public and painted pianos is moving them.” Says Dennis, “We lost some great movers during the pandemic and it’s just really hard to get them to us and then get them into locations where the public has access. If we could manage that piece, we would love to continue to commission both visual and performing artists to bring more vibrance to all areas within the city of Augusta.”

To donate to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts and support artists and free afterschool and summer camp programming for young artists, please click the donate button below!

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