March, 2010
By Hannah Sutherland-Peace arch News
ISSUU – Fri March 19 2010 PAN by Peace Arch News
Just months ago, two very unique pianos passed through the doors of Rod Verhnjak’s shop.
Amidst the technician’s shelves of glues, tools and boxes of various odds and ends stood the same Steinways now in Steinway and Sons’ prestigious Art Case Collection, the most notable piece from which was decorated by English artist Alma Tadema in the late 1800s and sold in a 1997 auction for $1.2 million.
Kuniisii – Music and Mythology is a black piano covered with the hand-painted design of Haida artist Jay Simeon, while The Way of Our Ancestors – Welh timás ta swa7ámchet is white with the artwork of Jody Broomfield painted in black.
They are both valued at around $500,000.
Together, the pianos are called Black and White In Harmony, and are meant to celebrate B.C. aboriginal art.
Verhnjak Pianos was commissioned to work on both of the instruments last year before they were unveiled to the public.
While at the South Surrey shop, they were dismantled, sanded, detailed and coated in a protective lacquer.
Kuniisii stayed at Verhnjak’s Pianos for five weeks near the beginning of last summer, while The Way of Our Ancestors took nine days worth of work at the end of November.
Verhnjak – who took over the family business after his father passed away six years ago – said he has had a passion for working on pianos since he was a kid, having grown up and spent many summers and weekends in the shop.
Although the White Rock Christian Academy grad played trumpet and trombone in high school, he was drawn to the inner-workings of instruments more than playing them.
“I’m mechanically minded and I build stuff. I’m not a musician.”
As technician, rebuilder and owner at Verhnjak Pianos, he has seen extraordinary pianos pass through his doors, from antique Steinways to pianos belonging to famous musicians, such as Bryan Adams.
One of the most memorable was the childhood piano of Joni Mitchell. He said he recognized handwritten music on the bench as some of her famous songs.
As far as Black and White in Harmony, he feels privileged to be chosen for the work.
“It’s nice to be called upon and trusted to do this kind of work in town,” he said.
After two years in the making, Kuniisii was unveiled last July at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where Simeon explained it was named after the supernatural being that gave the Haida people songs and music.
The design was painted in acrylic made from ground argillite, a stone found exclusively on Haida Gwaii.
The Way of Our Ancestors was unveiled to the public Jan. 7.
According to a release, Coast Salish artist Broomfield – a North Vancouver resident and Squamish Nation member – created the piano’s design using symbols of his culture, such as the thunderbird, salmon, ocean, sacred eye and humanity.
His other recent artworks include the Four Host First Nations’ crest for the 2010 Games, and five gold and silver collectible coins for the Royal Canadian Mint.
The pianos – which were commissioned by Tom Lee Music Canada – appear in select concerts and artist performances throughout B.C. until the end of the Paralympics this weekend, after which they will be sold, with partial proceeds benefiting the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities.
“We’re hopeful a buyer will buy them and maybe donate them to the Museum of Anthropology,” Tom Lee community relations manager Richard Howland said. “These are probably the only pianos that will be designed like this. These sort of pianos are one-off.”
