Moving is hard. Moving across states as a young adult is even harder. Rebekah Lwanga, a 19-year-old self-taught artist, moved to Colorado from Southern California at the age of 14.
“I remember moving from California and feeling very disconnected,” said Lwanga. “California was an incredibly vibrant place to grow up, and I felt a great loss when we moved. But when I walked downtown Fort Collins for the first time, its appreciation for art struck me. I felt like I could make this place my home.”
Lwanga is painting a piano through Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Lwanga’s piano design reflects the adventures and connections she forged when she ventured out on her own at 18. “I finally tasted freedom in a nurturing environment,” she said. “These encounters expanded my horizons, revealing the myriad of joys that life has to offer.” The bold geometric shapes and colors of her piano design pay homage to Lwanga’s African heritage and her love of modern cartoons such as Gravity Falls and Adventure Time.
“The city’s commitment to fostering local talent resonates deeply with me,” said Lwanga. “I am drawn to contribute to its cultural tapestry. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have my art possibly impact people as it did me.”
Lwanga will be painting at the Art in Action tent on the south side of Old Town Square through Aug. 12. Upon completion, the piano will move to various surprise locations across Fort Collins.
Pianos About Town
Pianos About Town is a collaboration among Bohemian Foundation, the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places, and the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority. Community members watch as local artists transform donated pianos into public art. Placed across 20 locations across town in the summer, and six locations in the winter, the completed pianos offer surprise interruptions of color and music across Fort Collins.