[{"id":94,"created_at":"2025-07-01T15:21:38-04:00","program_id":36,"site_title":"Westfield World Trade Center","site_location":"185 Greenwich St.","site_description":null,"lat":40.7115548575768,"lon":-74.0110015414657,"pianos":[{"id":110,"piano_title":"Evolve","piano_image":"https://app.singforhope.org/storage/v1/object/public/uploads/pianos/bwac.png","piano_statement":"I was beyond thrilled to paint this piano and to continue working with Sing for Hope. I’m always honored to be involved with the work you all are doing. Also honored and appreciate the opportunity to work with Westfield on this amazing project. To have my work in two of their amazing spaces is beyond humbling. I’m open to any ideas to help inspire young people in NY and LA. Appreciate the opportunity and support that you all provide for artists. I’m all in.","created_at":"2025-07-01T14:39:29.995895-04:00","piano_url":"evolve-3","piano_artist":null,"piano_year":"2022","artist_name":"Lance Johnson","piano_program":"36","piano_artist_bio":"Art has the power to change the world. Art helps us express ourselves freely. Allows us to creatively share our perspectives and has the power to build bridges culturally, racially, and economically. As an artist, I am well aware of its power. I use my work to inspire people from all walks of life. Especially young people who live in urban environments. I want them to appreciate where they come from and to embrace the beauty around them but also aspire to greater things. I use vibrant colors, textures, and WORDS to inspire the viewer of my work. I use words like DREAM, INSPIRE, SHINE, LOVE, LIVE, CREATE, BEAUTY, PEACE, WISDOM throughout my work to affect emotions in the viewer. Growing up in the Bronx, I had no idea that I could actually be an artist as a profession. It was never an option in my mind. But when I was 14, my mother showed me a documentary called “I’ll Make Me A World” based on the art of the Harlem Renaissance. It was life-changing. I had never seen artists that looked like me. It made it seem real. It planted the seed in me. Now I hear this same thing all the time when I work with students of all ages. It never feels like a possibility to them but when they see me, it becomes attainable. That is always so satisfying to me. Art has absolutely changed my life. Art has taken me to parts of the country I never thought I would see. Parts of the world I never thought I would see. Art has the power to break down barriers. I recently traveled to Turkey for an art residency called NEXT LEVEL USA. Never in a million years, did I think I would have the opportunity to travel and share my work with people from across the globe. I lead workshops with local artists and the experience was so transformative. The highlight of my journey was when one of my fellow artists, Hazel, 38 years old, said that this was the first time she felt borderless and free. That is the essence of art to me.","permanent_home_name":"This Sing for Hope Piano will be delivered to a public school, healthcare facility, or community center to inspire lives for years to come.","contributors_info":null,"perm_lat":"40.7127753","perm_lng":"-74.0059728","artist_photo":"https://app.singforhope.org/storage/v1/object/public/uploads/uploads/lance-johnson-scaled-e1638299791203.jpg","artist_website_url":"http://ljartlife.com/","artist_facebook_url":null,"artist_instagram_url":"https://www.instagram.com/lanceljart/?hl=en","public_location_name":"Westfield World Trade Center","piano_search":"Evolve 2022 Lance Johnson Art has the power to change the world. Art helps us express ourselves freely. Allows us to creatively share our perspectives and has the power to build bridges culturally, racially, and economically. As an artist, I am well aware of its power. I use my work to inspire people from all walks of life. Especially young people who live in urban environments. I want them to appreciate where they come from and to embrace the beauty around them but also aspire to greater things. I use vibrant colors, textures, and WORDS to inspire the viewer of my work. I use words like DREAM, INSPIRE, SHINE, LOVE, LIVE, CREATE, BEAUTY, PEACE, WISDOM throughout my work to affect emotions in the viewer. Growing up in the Bronx, I had no idea that I could actually be an artist as a profession. It was never an option in my mind. But when I was 14, my mother showed me a documentary called “I’ll Make Me A World” based on the art of the Harlem Renaissance. It was life-changing. I had never seen artists that looked like me. It made it seem real. It planted the seed in me. Now I hear this same thing all the time when I work with students of all ages. It never feels like a possibility to them but when they see me, it becomes attainable. That is always so satisfying to me. Art has absolutely changed my life. Art has taken me to parts of the country I never thought I would see. Parts of the world I never thought I would see. Art has the power to break down barriers. I recently traveled to Turkey for an art residency called NEXT LEVEL USA. Never in a million years, did I think I would have the opportunity to travel and share my work with people from across the globe. I lead workshops with local artists and the experience was so transformative. The highlight of my journey was when one of my fellow artists, Hazel, 38 years old, said that this was the first time she felt borderless and free. That is the essence of art to me. I was beyond thrilled to paint this piano and to continue working with Sing for Hope. I’m always honored to be involved with the work you all are doing. Also honored and appreciate the opportunity to work with Westfield on this amazing project. To have my work in two of their amazing spaces is beyond humbling. I’m open to any ideas to help inspire young people in NY and LA. Appreciate the opportunity and support that you all provide for artists. I’m all in. 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Artist: Lance Johnson Location: The Shops at Oculus, 185 Greenwich St Hours: Mondays and Thursdays 10AM - 7PM Note: Holiday break Nov 13 - Jan 13 (ice rink installation)
Artist Statement: I was beyond thrilled to paint this piano and to continue working with Sing for Hope. I'm always honored to be involved with the work you all are doing. Also honored and appreciate the opportunity to work with Westfield on this amazing project. To have my work in two of their amazing spaces is beyond humbling. I'm open to any ideas to help inspire young people in NY and LA. Appreciate the opportunity and support that you all provide for artists. I'm all in.
Program News
The Sing for Hope Pianos
Sing for Hope Pianos is a global arts program that creates
artist-designed pianos, places them in public spaces for everyone to
enjoy, then transports and activates them year-round in schools,
hospitals, and community centers worldwide. Sing for Hope has provided
more pianos for under-resourced public schools than any other
organization in the world.
700+
SFH Pianos Created
57 Million+
People Reached
8 Billion+
Media Impressions Garnered
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the most important question of all, and the answer is a resounding Yes! The Sing for Hope Pianos are for everyone and anyone to enjoy. Have a seat and play — it’s all yours!
Absolutely. Most people who enjoy the Sing for Hope Pianos are amateurs who just want to have some fun, including many children who are experiencing a piano for the first time!
Seriously, it’s okay. The Sing for Hope Pianos aren’t about making perfect music (whatever that is!); they’re about creating spontaneous moments of community. Have a seat and see what happens!
Sure! Grab a piano-playing friend and bring your mat! The Sing for Hope Pianos are there for you to enjoy in all manner of possible community engagement: dance parties, musical meditations, sing-alongs — let your imagination take over.
There’s no time limit, but we ask all visitors to the Sing for Hope Pianos to be respectful of the people around them. Please try not to monopolize the piano if there are others waiting to play.
Check out our interactive map of SFH Piano locations at singforhope.org/pianos
You can find us on Instagram @singforhope, Twitter @singforhope, Facebook @sing4hope, and by following #singforhope and #singforhopepianos. Find the artists’ bios, artist’s statements, and social media links on their pages at singforhope.org/piano-gallery, and please tag them as well!
Please do! We encourage you and your organization(s) to share concerts, lessons, etc. on the Sing for Hope Pianos as much and as often as you like. That said, please do note our emphasis on flexibility with event start times. You may arrive to a five-year-old’s first tour of the keys, etc. — so you’ll want to be flexible with your start time and mindful of the communal kindness at the heart of the program.
No. We are all about an old-school acoustic vibe (and you sound gorgeous without a mike, by the way). To that point, did you know that the piano was originally called the pianoforte, Italian for soft-loud, because of its gorgeous range of dynamics, from pianissimo (super soft) to your fortissimo (super loud)? So get out there and explore all of your volume levels, but without amplification, please.
No permit is needed if your performance is being recorded or live streamed using any of the following nonprofessional items: hand-held camera, cell phone, tripod on piano or selfie stick, small tripod, and if it is for non-commercial use such as social media/personal use.
Written permission is required from the site hosting the Sing for Hope Piano if commercial equipment is being used, if there is use of the public right of way, if your recording/video equipment blocks the sidewalk, and/or if you are intending to market any of the footage or photos, now or in the future.