“The Entertainer”
Ten-year-old Tom Goetz was ready to be done with taking piano lessons. But his mom Terrinye pleaded with her son to continue – at least until he could play a very popular Scott Joplin tune.
“So at his last recital, he played ‘The Entertainer’ for me,” said Terrinye.
Fast forward a few decades and now the mother-son duo are both professional artists who share space at Mainframe Studios. Terrinye works in mostly watercolor and acrylics and is known for her wildlife art while Tom is a conceptual artist known for his abstract work, but despite their differing styles, they’ve found success working together.
Their latest project? A piano – appropriately titled “The Entertainer” – outside Ted’s Coney Island (3020 Ingersoll).
Tom and Terrinye Goetz
Joplin was often influenced by his mother so Tom and Terrinye thought the childhood memory could serve as perfect inspiration for their piano. Look closely and you can even spot a photo of young Tom playing “The Entertainer” at that memorable recital, along with a few other hidden images and QR code scavenger hunt.
The piano was created with more than 250 pieces of salvaged sheet music with each song carefully selected and placed.
“We used the composition of the sheets to create platforms for the silhouette dancers,” explained Tom, creating a “3D effect” on the piano.
The piano is part of the City Sounds project. City Sounds is a nonprofit organization that installs artfully painted pianos at 10 different locations around the Des Moines metro.
Dancers on “The Entertainer”
Ted’s has played host to a piano since the City Sounds project began more than a decade ago.
“I think it’s great that I have the opportunity to work with my mom on something and get along and be happy with each other,” said Tom.
Terrinye agreed: “It was more about the process and enjoying it.”
Want to see Tom and Terrinye’s musical work of art? Piano locations are generally open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, pending weather. Accessibility of the pianos is at the discretion of the caretakers. Anyone is welcome to sit down on the bench and play a tune.
Thank you to Stacy Velman and staff of Ted’s Coney Island for being wonderful caretakers of the Ingersoll piano over the years! The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand is also a proud sponsor of the piano.
