By Erin Hawkins
Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUM — Keying Around went out with a bang with a block party sponsored by the city of Sequim and City Arts Advisory Commission that included live music, local vendors and a painted piano auction.
Friday’s block party marked the end of the Keying Around program that started July 7 where painted pianos were dispersed throughout Sequim at the Civic Center, US Bank, The Emerald Northwest Grill &Public House and Over the Fence, inviting the public to play music at any of the four locations.
“It was all about a collaboration of community,” Keying Around organizer and artist Natalie Andrzejeski said about the final event.
Three pianos were painted this year by local artists such as Jake Reichner’s Sequim High School AP art class, “L Squared” including Luke Kisena and Luke Silliman and Andrzejeski.
The piano Andrzejeski painted, inspired by the lavender farms in Sequim called “Purple Haze,” was auctioned off at the event to a family for $725. Proceeds from the auction go toward future art-related projects in the city.
Andrzejeski said two pianos remain for either a sponsor or buyer and one will remain as a revolving example for future Keying Around events.
She said she would like the remaining two pianos to be sponsored and placed throughout town to continue to allow the public to play on them.
In the future, Andrzejeski said she wants to make Keying Around and the block party an annual event for residents and locals to look forward to each year.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
