An experimental creative project across the Upper Hunter.
Four local community groups are participating in Arts Upper Hunter’s Visuaural, Death Cycle of a found Piano project, where a whole, ruined piano (or two) is “upcycled” by creative people and interested parties into artworks, machines, instruments, whatever! Participants will work with their piano as material, sound source, and object, with the intention of utilising every component through creative reuse.
The four groups taking part are Performing Artists Dungog, Dungog by Design, Dungog Art Society, and Paterson Allyn Williams Science and Ideas Hub. Dungog Men’s Shed have offered to host a piano during the deconstruction, sharing their knowledge and practical skills. A variety of outcomes is expected and as the project ramps up through August and on until the end of the year community member might expect to see one very glamourous Dungog Dump piano pop up around town.
Each group will bring its own ideas, experiences, and skill sets to the process. ”The idea is that, like nose to tail gastronomy, the whole piano will be consumed” says project officer Haylee Knight. “It might become a single sculpture or many small objects, be percussed and played throughout the process, or be fully disassembled. What each group produces are entirely up to them.” Documentation, along with completed artworks or functional objects created from the piano components, will form part of an exhibition at Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre in mid 2027.
More details will be provided as they come to hand, so please check back.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia, along with Regional Arts Australia, Regional Arts New South Wales and Muswellbrook Shire Council.
Photo taken by Haylee Knight.
