PlanPhilly: University City's public pianos return, this time to Clark Park

Friday, June 7, 2013

Link to original article with photos.

Heart & Soul, University City District's (UCD) public piano series has returned - bringing a little extra soul to the heart of University City. Now through June 16, UCD invites the public to sit down and share its creativity through impromptu piano performances on any of the four, artist adapted public pianos.

Unlike last year, when eight pianos were scattered throughout University City and were adapted by multiple local artists, this year's pianos are all in Clark Park and are all designed by Philadelphia paper cut out artist and wheat paster Joe Boruchow, who designed one of the pianos last year. Boruchow's art can be found pasted to vacant buildings and other street-side objects throughout the city. More will be on display at his Future Primitive exhibit tonight, Friday, June 7 at The Art Dept. as a part of this month's First Friday series.

The pianos were not the only thing causing a stir in Clark Park Thursday. University City District provided complimentary Little Baby's Ice Cream to kick off the piano series, which coincided with return of the Thursday Clark Park farmers market. Frecon Farms was on site selling the first cherries of the season. Big Sky Bakery had its signature breads and pies, and new food truck additions Zea May's and Local 215 were parked nearby.

Clark Park kids were learning a few circus tricks from a man on stilts, and a handful of men clustered around two intense chess games. As summer approaches, the park's varied activity appears to be in full swing.