Artist Statement: "Stories In The Making" is about celebrating books and the role that reading, libraries, and bookstores hold in our lives, especially in our formative years. Books have always been a huge part of my childhood -- they were the first place that encouraged me to dream when life at home was difficult, and showed me a future where anything was possible, for people of all backgrounds. Margaret Atwood's quote of "In the end, we'll all become stories." inspired me because it reminds us, no matter how old we are, to reflect on the lives that we are living now, and consider whether we will be proud of who we are becoming in the future. I hope that this piano design allows for kids to find the magic in reading again. I can't think of anything better than music to pair with reading to fully immerse ourselves in the magic of other worlds, and bring that same magic into our own reality.
Sally Chen (they/she/he) is a queer, nonbinary, second-generation Chinese American illustrator and poet born & based in NYC. They graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and Psychology minor in 2022. As a published children's book illustrator (A Song For Nolan, 2024) and muralist, Sally utilizes free-flowing lines, vibrant colors, glowing silhouettes, bits of verse, and portraiture to capture the many fleeting moments of joy and sorrow that keep us yearning for another day, and consequently, a brighter future. Their illustration work explores their Chinese heritage, generational cycle breaking from matriarchs who uphold the patriarchy, and holding onto the quiet intimacies that occur in daily life. Recently, they have created murals for Frank Ottomanelli's LIC in partnership with Hunter's Point South Park, painted their third piano for Sing For Hope that was featured at Union Square Park, and participated in exhibits with Flushing Town Hall, Arts Gowanus, NYC IT Girl Art Collective, etc. Sally hopes to make more joyful portraits, children's books, and murals of people that don't often see themselves depicted in art.
