Jamaica Plain Residents Picked to Paint Public Pianos

BOSTON, MA — Two Jamaica Plain residents have been selected, as part of a group of artists charged with bringing to life the next Street Pianos Boston series, which runs Sept. 23 through Oct. 10.

This year marks the return of the public pianos. The Boston Celebrity Series first installed the artfully decorated pianos around town in 2013, inviting the public to sit down and tickle the ivories as part of artist Luke Jerram's international "Play Me, I'm Yours" series.

According to a spokesman for the Celebrity Series, work on the pianos has begun and will continue through August 26 at the Innovation and Design Building in Boston. Once complete, the pianos will be tuned up before they are installed in every neighborhood across the city.

Courtesy the Celebrity Series, you can meet the two Jamaica Plain artists selected below:

Dylan Hurwitz is a musician and artist living in Jamaica Plain. Hurwitz grew up studying classical piano from age five until he went off to art school at SMFA/Tufts University and graduated with his Bachelors of Fine Arts. Currently, Hurwitz is the Director of the Boston LGBTQIA Artist Alliance, an artist run volunteer organization that seeks to elevate the voices of and provide resources to Boston area LGBTQIA artists.

Sara Begin is a Jamaica Plain resident who has been painting murals and various furniture pieces for 16 years. Recently, Begin has shifted her focus onto drawing illustrations and prints inspired by her life experiences and human interactions.

>> Photo courtesy jude, via Flickr/Creative Commons