PRESS RELEASE
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel Adds Newest Rodrigue Piece:
100-Year-Old Steinway Piano Adorned with Signature Blue Dog
Piano to Be Featured in Hotel Lobby as Part of Rodrigue Gallery
New Orleans – Nov 6, 2013 – Home to the Rodrigue Gallery, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel is continuing its partnership with famed artist George Rodrigue by adding The Rodrigue Steinway “Blue Dog Piano” to its collection. The creator of the world-renowned Blue Dog series used a 100-year old Steinway Model A grand piano as his canvas to create an impressive piece that will be displayed in the hotel’s lobby for up to two years for guests and locals to admire.
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| Billy Joel signed and played the piano in May 2013. |
Celebrating its 100th birthday, the genuine 1913 Steinway was donated and fully restored to Steinway & Sons standards by the Hall Piano Company. When not at home at the Sheraton New Orleans, the piano will continue touring the country to raise awareness about the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and the LSU School of Music. Musical legends such as Billy Joel, Allen Toussaint, Ellis Marsalis Jr., Irvin Mayfield, Dr. John and many others have already played and signed the grand piano which is equipped with a state-of-the-art digital recording system allowing it to replay some of those memorable performances as well as a library of 4,000 songs.
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| George Rodrigue paints the Rodrigue Steinway. |
In addition to the Blue Dog Piano, on display at the hotel’s Rodrigue Gallery are rare Blue Dog prints, an original Blue Dog painting on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art and the only reproduction of Victory on Bayou St. John, originally created for the WWII Museum.
Located in one of the hotel’s private function spaces, The Rodrigue Gallery is open for guests’ viewing pleasure whenever unoccupied. Locals and visitors can also view select pieces highlighted through the exterior facing windows on Canal Street. For more information about Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, please visit www.sheratonneworleans.com.