Oceanside Theatre Company and Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation Select Artist for Oceanside’s Public Piano Project

Award-Winning BJ Lane to Transform “Miss Mary” into Tribute to Theatre and the Arts

(Oceanside, CA) – May 16, 2025 – Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) and the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) are proud to announce that award-winning artist BJ Lane has been selected to transform a donated upright piano—Miss Mary, named in honor of Mary Hendricks—into a vibrant work of public art. Chosen from a competitive pool for her creativity and interpretation of the theme theatre and performing arts, Lane will reimagine Miss Mary as part of the Oceanside Public Piano Project, which places hand-painted pianos in public spaces citywide.

Miss Mary is the fourth piano in the initiative and will be on display in the lobby of the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater (217 North Coast Highway), with an official reveal and ribbon cutting during the Brooks Theater Gallery’s Artist Open House on Friday, June 13 at 5:30 PM.

Launched by Robert Parker in partnership with OCAF, the Oceanside Public Piano Project merges visual art and music to encourage spontaneous public interaction. Other pianos are currently featured at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Civic Center Library, and 101 Cafe. Inspired by The Piano Project and Play Me Again Pianos, it aims to bring creativity directly to the community.

“I’ve always supported public pianos, but seeing the ‘Play Me Again’ project showed me the potential for turning them into art,” said Robert Parker, OCAF Vice President. “This is about bringing people together through art and music. I can’t wait to see Miss Mary transformed.”

The piano was donated by The Piano Outlet, LLC, with owner Yen Lee covering delivery costs. Naming rights were gifted in memory of Mary Hendricks, a trailblazer in the arts who passed away in 2024 at over 100 years of age.

“She appeared in Our Gang comedies at age three and later broke the glass ceiling in business,” said Michelle D’Elia, her daughter-in-law. “She worked her way up to head of treasury at SoCal Gas and volunteered with City of Hope. She adored theatre and ushered well into her 90s. Her spirit lives on in this project.”

Miss Mary will celebrate the performing arts with bold imagery of instruments, actors, and musicians—Lane’s signature theatrical style. A Fallbrook-based artist with a 50+ year career, BJ Lane is known for emotionally expressive work that bridges cultural and human experiences. She has until June 10, 2025, to complete the transformation.

“This is more than painting a piano—it’s a celebration of shared creativity,” Lane said. “I’m honored to contribute to this community through my work.”

“The Public Piano Project has been a beautiful collaboration,” said Carol Naegele, Brooks Theater Gallery Curator and OTC Board Member. “BJ Lane’s design will embody the energy, color, and spirit of the theater. We can’t wait to see her vision realized.”

This project highlights the shared mission of OTC and OCAF to enrich the community through accessible, interactive art that inspires connection and creativity.