Pianos play into Texas capital scenery

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you walk around Downtown Austin, you might see a strange sight in various parts of the city -- pianos.

For the next month, 17 upright pianos will be placed in random spots around town.

"Museums and galleries are great, but there is something about bringing art into the streets that changes it, makes it a little more democratic in a way," said Austin artist Johnny Walker.

Walker is in charge of installing the art project that has become an international sensation, called Play Me I'm Yours .

The idea is to install pianos throughout a city and encourage the public to interact with them. It started in 2008 by London artist Luke Jarrem and became something everyone wanted. 

"It was a bit unexpected, actually," said Jenny Crook, project manager of Play Me I'm Yours. "It was drafted for a festival, it went to Sydney and then picked up interest all over the world." 

It's gone from New York City to Barcelona and Grand Rapids, Mich. Austin is the 18th city to get the installation.

"There will be 17 pianos in the urban core, ranging from Congress Avenue to the Pfluger Bridge and the trail," said Meredith Powell, executive director of Art Alliance Austin. 

"We put it together in such a way that people could move from piano to piano," said Walker. 

And they want you to do more than just play it.

"Even tag it, paint it, decorate it, whatever. It's there for you to engage with," said Crook. “Artists have done installations with the piano, painted or decorated them. We have had whole air balloons coming off of the pianos." 

So whether you're walking across the Pfluger Bridge or you're a curious 2-year-old, let's hear what Austinists have to offer. 

All 17 pianos will be installed by Friday and will be in place for the entire month of April. 

You're encouraged to take pictures and videos with the piano and upload them to the exhibit's website .