Artist Statement: Joy! Play! Explore! Fun! A lot of my work explores my own love/hate relationship with New York City. On one hand, I love the energy and the feeling of "anything is possible!" However, it can be overwhelming and exhausting -- punctuated by the fact that New Yorkers can often be jaded, disconnected, and blasé. A lot of times, I find myself retracting to colourful, imaginative, and playful worlds to combat these negative feelings. It helps me stay energized and joyful. I wanted to create a piano that makes people feel the same - energized, joyful, and that anything is possible! The piano is a manifestation of playful creatures that aim to provide an escape from the grey NYC landscape. The top of the piano is filled with dimensional paper mache and textile creatures, collectively exclaiming, "Let's PLAY!" The whole piano is an explosion of colour, pattern, texture, and imagination! I will be using mixed-media for the piano. It will primarily be painted, with 3D elements made from textile and sculpture. This will invite people to explore the piano - both visually and through touch. I hope this piano design sparks a smile and ignites joy - this is the main purpose of my art.