THE century-old Nangula Hall piano has been given a splash of colour and a new lease of life at the hands of community members and local artists.
Around 30 people gathered at the Central Hub Market recently for the official unveiling of the Tickle the Ivories street piano, which was the Imagine Millicent Arts Group’s (IMAG) second project for the year.
The piano project was enriched at the Central Hub during a two-day workshop directed by Port MacDonnell artist Jeremy Ievins, which was attended by local youth and adults.
Participants used paint pens to fill in the design created by Jeremy and brought the piano to life by creating their own eye-catching and dynamic artworks and designs.
IMAG committee member Moira Neagle said as a small group, IMAG’s goal is to create an art trail through the commercial hub of Millicent with at least six highly visible art installations.
“I think you will agree that we began with a fabulously bright bang with the mural on the old bank building,” she said.
“This project is no less muted in colour, but on a far more intimate scale, if you will pardon this pun.
“So intimate that each and every member of the public can directly engage with it to tickle its ivories.”
The piano was stored in the Nangula Soldiers Memorial Hall for many decades and Ms Neagle said it would have been a stalwart instrument for waltzes and foxtrots for many Saturday night dances.
“The Nangula Hall was officially opened in the last week of August 1922,” Ms Neagle said.
“A Miss Jordan used to hold concerts there to help pay off the construction of the hall.
“There were many dances held back in the 1930s and local dance groups used to perform there too, all requiring a real live person playing a genuine piano.”
A piano tuner who worked on the “Tickle the Ivories” instrument estimated it to be over 100 years old.
“This project has been made possible by a lot of ground work by our IMAG member Helen Joyce, the wonderful support, organisation and promotion by Clare Johnston at the Central Hub Market, Jeremy Ievins and workshop participants, a grant from the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, Country Arts SA and to Glenn Brown for donating the piano,” Ms Neagle said.
“This is now a piece of visual art, however it is for playing as well as viewing.”
Ms Neagle was joined by Ms Joyce in untying the ribbon and revealing the brightly coloured artwork to the community.
Two popular Millicent pianists Joycelin Walker and Joan Morgan welcomed the piano into its next life as a public piano for all to play.
Those attending were then invited to tickle the ivories and leave a comment in the piano’s guest book.
The piano currently rests at the Central Hub, which is open to the public on Saturday and Sundays.
