Artist Statement: Many years ago, I planted a Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree in my Brooklyn backyard. When my son was little, the sight of the cherry blossoms (Sakura) left him so captivated that he was inspired to write a poem about them. Every spring, I eagerly await the arrival of these blossoms, which paint the sky above my backyard in countless shades of pink. Yet, the beauty is short-lived, reminding me that, like the blooms, our lives are also fleeting. For artist Yayoi Kusama, polka dots symbolize infinity. My Sing for Hope Piano blends the ephemeral Sakura with Kusamas vision of capturing the infinite.
A lifelong Brooklynite, Chris Spinelli began his art journey with chalk on his parents bedroom set. After studying at the Brooklyn Museum in the 1980s and graduating from the School of Visual Arts, he worked as a freelance illustrator before taking a 20-year pause to raise a family. Since returning to art in 2011, he has exhibited nationally and internationally. His work—deeply influenced by his Brooklyn roots—explores themes such as Coney Island, religion, and gardening, all bursting with vibrant color and rich texture. Chris has painted eight Sing for Hope Pianos, and his solo exhibition Brooklyn Dreamland, Land Without Shadows premiered at New York Citys Arsenal Gallery in 2025.
