Client

Overview

2 baby grand pianos create a horse sculpture. 7′ tall, 9′ from nose to tail, 3′ wide. The horse’s head is built from the “action” of the piano with keys and mechanical bits, so when you tickle its ivory nose the “ears” (piano hammers) wiggle! (photo R. Lopez)

Goals

Using musical and horse iconography, make a centerpiece for Succotash, a high-end Southern themed restaurant in National Harbor, Maryland.

Process

Michael and Jason trusted me to start building with the idea we would end up with a life sized horse made from the parts of 2 pianos. We didn't know what it would look like at first. I disassembled the 2 pianos and made 1/4 scale replicas of all the piano parts. Composing with the model parts, very soon it was clear the wooden bodies of the piano cases easily mimicked the shape of a horse's body, and we were off to a great start fleshing out the details in steel and wood. The "Action" of the piano is the machine that transfers the energy into the keys to the hammers and strings, so I wanted to include the most complex bits in the head/brain area of the "horse".