In addition to being a painter, I am a pianist and accordionist. My partner is an accordion technician, and he can always tell so much about a person by the idiosyncrasies of their instrument. For example, one may be able to tell the preferred keys of a musician if the instrument was old enough to have been performed in smokey bars, where soot will accumulate through the reed block proportional to which keys were played the most. We have another friend who plays hard and constantly breaks reeds (the inside of an accordion is similar to a harmonica and has metal reeds that can snap. Accordions can show exposure to humidity or musty neglect. The instrument in this painting was in the accordion shop waiting for a new custom ordered bellows from Italy (they even make the bellows for the Cajun boxes manufactured locally). This particular repair was clearly one out of loyalty and affection for an old and somewhat worn instrument. I wanted to paint it like a seated portrait that animated it and showed the weight it held.
Artist + Stephanie Reed
Follow this artistI love life in New Orleans. I am an accordionist and painter that daylights as an application developer at a not-for-profit.
Stephanie Reed is a New Orleans artist living and working in the 7th Ward.
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