Brett Lee plays a few notes on the piano before moving on with his night on Oct. 10 on the corner of Victoria and State Streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. This piano was painted by Artist Baby Moet.
Bethany J Davenport
Pianos downtown brings musical and artistic collaboration to Santa Barbara’s State Street
A gentle October breeze sends leaves fluttering from where they hang from trees as warm sunlight casts soft shadows on the sidewalk below. While people are chatting and shopping, attendees can hear soft melodies drift through the air on Santa Barbara’s State Street. Every few blocks, a colorful piano entices passersby to stop and share a little music with the world.
City College student Isabelle Martinez (left) teaches Anthony Almazon songs on a piano that was painted by artist Catalina Bertola on Oct. 12 on State Street in Santa Barbara, Calif. “We come here every Tuesday and Thursday to learn new songs,” Martinez said. (Bethany Davenport)Justin William plays a piano painted by artists Stephanie Ingoldsby and Rebecca Zendejas on Oct. 12 on the corner of Canon Perdido and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. “I’m self taught… I’ve been playing for 37 years,” William says. (Bethany Davenport)Friends Desray Castelo (left) and Emma Thom (right) encourage Jasmyn Dennis (center) as she tries to remember the songs she learned from her childhood piano lessons on Oct. 12 on the corner of Victoria and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. “It’s the biggest thing that irks me about myself: I can’t remember,” Dennis says. (Bethany Davenport)Lorelei Donaire plays a few more notes before giving her sister Temperance a turn at the keys on Oct. 10 on the corner of Anapamu and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. Artist Jen Swain painted this monster-themed piano. (Bethany Davenport)Temperance Donaire plays a monster-painted piano for her family on Oct. 10 in Santa Barbara, Calif. This piano was painted by Jen Swain and sits on the corner of Anapamu and State streets. (Bethany Davenport)Andrew Brady plays the Pink Panther Theme song for passersby on Oct. 10 on the corner of Victoria and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. This piano was painted by Hello Coyote. (Bethany J Davenport)Sam Bufe plays a melody on the piano on Victoria Street on Oct. 10. in Santa Barbara, Calif. “I have an electric piano at home, but sometimes it’s nice to really feel it,” Bufe says as he explains why he enjoys playing the pianos on State Street. (Bethany Davenport)Steve Welton enjoys playing a monster-painted piano on Oct. 12 the corner of Anapamu and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. “It’s great, they are a little out of tune but what are you going to do,” Welton says while talking about how he enjoys playing the pianos on State Street. (Bethany J Davenport)Justin William plays a piano painted by artists Stephanie Ingoldsby and Rebecca Zendejas on Oct. 12 on the corner of Canon Perdido and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. “I’m self taught… I’ve been playing for 37 years,” William says. (Bethany Davenport)Hannah Mangold (front) smiles while chatting with Jerinimo Chris (back) on Oct. 12 on the corner of Figueroa and State Streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. “I play magic,” Chris says. “I can’t have anyone telling me what to do.” (Bethany J Davenport)Andrew Brady plays the Pink Panther Theme song for passersby on Oct. 10 on the corner of Victoria and State streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. This piano was painted by Hello Coyote. (Bethany J Davenport)Cody Sargent sings quietly while playing a piano on Oct. 10 at the corner of Figueroa and State Streets in Santa Barbara, Calif. This piano was painted by Santa Barbara artist Brett Renee. (Bethany J Davenport)
