"Liam" at The Woodruff Arts Center

Artist:  Liam Agans

Piano Donation:  Ed and Karen Ness

Location:  The Woodruff Arts Center, Callaway Plaza

Find and play Liam along the south side of the Memorial Arts building near the door to the Symphony Store, opposite the Robert Woodruff statue.

(Peachtree Street, near the corner of 15th Street.)

Liam's
Story

This piano is named "Liam" after the nine year old artist who painted it.  Yes, he's nine!  We're impressed by his use of color and we just love his work.  His parents, Ray and Gretchen Agans, explain that Liam's style of painting reflects the freedom and fearlessness of youth, and that their son never worries about the 'right' way, but he captures your heart his way.

"As the home of world class art for all, The Woodruff Arts Center is excited to continue its partnership with Play Me Again Pianos in bringing community engaging street pianos to Midtown, the cultural hub of Atlanta and the Southeaster U.S., said Gary Sayers, Director of Marketing & Patron Experience for The Woodruff Arts Center.  "This second piano, in Callaway Plaza, will continue adding to the cultural an exuberant atmosphere of The Woodruff Arts Center and Midtown Atlanta, " continued Sayers.

About Liam Agans
Liam began painting regularly in 2014 as part of his physical therapy shortly after he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).  Currently, there is no cure for DMD and many boys pass away before their twenties.  Life expectancy past 35 is rare.  Play Me Again Pianos hopes that the piano 'Liam' will help raise awareness about Duchenne and the need for research.

Ray and Gretchen's goal is that, "While Duchenne may take his body, it will never steal his joy. We are fighting back by creating beauty in the place of sitting in despair."

You can see more of Liam's work on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LiamAgans.

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It's caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact.  Muscle weakness can begin as early as age three.  Many children with DMD begin using a wheelchair sometime between ages seven and twelve.

By the early teens, lack of dystrophin can weaken the muscle layer in the heart resulting in a condition called cardiomyopathy.  Over time, sometimes as early as the teen years, the damage done by DMD to the heart can become life-threatening.

Beginning at about ten years of age, the diaphragm and other muscles that operate the lungs may weaken.  Weakened respiratory muscles make it difficult to cough, leading to increased risk of serious respiratory infection.  A simple cold can quickly progress to pneumonia.

You can donate to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy specific research at www.EndDuchenne.org.

About The Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Ga, is one of the largest arts centers in the world, home to the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre, the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and the High Museum of Art, the leading art museum in the Southeast.  One of the only arts venues in the United States to offer both visual and performing arts on a single campus, The Woodruff produces outstanding theater, music and exhibitions for nearly one million patrons each year.  Through the combined efforts of the Alliance, the ASO and the High, The Woodruff also offers remarkable educational programming, with approximately 200,000 students taking part annually, making The Woodruff the largest arts educator in Georgia.  For more information, visit woodruffcenter.org.

Liam's Birthdate:  October 16th, 2016
Installation #3

Share Your Liam Stories

If you have a story with this piano that you'd like to share, please do so, we'd love to hear from you! We'd also enjoy seeing your pictures and videos.

Tag:
@PlayMeAgainPianos
#PMAPLiam