BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On Saturday, many gathered in Bethlehem at the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, an 80,000-square-foot, five-story visual and performing arts hub in Southside Bethlehem.
Lauren Beck, local artist and owner of Bloomery Art Co., was one of the artists who designed and created an installation.
“Putting my mark on this building, being super new and knowing it’s going to be a part of the space for a long time is just thrilling to me,” she said.
Beck Didn’t grow up here, but now she lives, works, and raises her family in the Lehigh Valley.
“These are brand new works of art by both local and national artists,” said Lisa Harms, Vice President of Visual Arts and Education.
Harms and a group from the Visual Arts Department at Artsquest worked to find five unique artists.
The creators spent more than a year developing these installations, including murals, a steel sculpture, and a fiber installation.
Local business owner Gabby Edwards said she enjoyed making it out to the art designation and artist panel to learn about the pieces and support her husband, who is another one of the designers.
“This place is beautiful,” remarked Edwards.
Beyond the industrial feel of the big, black building, Harms says:
“Literally these pieces change the space as you’re standing in it.”
Listen, look, and ask questions; today was a way for the community to engage with the art.
“I felt creative, like I want to create, I want to come here, I want to hang out, I want to contribute,” said Edwards.
Lauren’s unique mural is known as “Steel City Chroma” in the Joe and Corey Bergstein Theatre.
“This idea of like a party in the city, energy, bright colors, and it really developed through that idea of nightlife, and comedy, and capturing the heart of what’s about to happen on the stage,” explains Beck.
“The art scene in the Lehigh Valley is thriving, I think, more than ever before,” explains Harms.
The newer, 33-million-dollar visual arts building is only part of the vibrancy yet to come to the valley.
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