Explore the Urban Arts Trail of SouthSide Bethlehem, a 2.75-mile trek along a variety of creative public art pieces. This expansive trail is filled with sculptures, murals, and other outstanding artwork created by some great artists from Lehigh Valley and around the world.Use our guide below to navigate your way along this fun art-filled adventure! Tag us in your photos on Instagram @LehighValleyPA #LVMadePossible.
Photos courtesy of SouthSide Arts District.
"Welcome to the SouthSide" (Mural), Max Meano
120 W. 3rd StreetThis mural grew out of a Lehigh University class project. The mural includes metal-fabricated letters. Some depict city landmarks, such as the old Bethlehem Steel ore bridge emblazoned with “Sands,” and acorn-shaped streetlights.
"Mr. Imagination Bus Shelter" (Mosaic / Sculpture / Structure), Mr. Imagination
The Banana Factory Courtyard, 25 W. 3rd StreetGrotto Bus Shelter- Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority’s “Grotto” bus shelter at the Banana Factory. World-renowned outsider artist Mr. Imagination made his home in Bethlehem, PA for a few years in the early 2000s. The bus shelter was created along with help from youth in the Pennsylvania Career Link Program as job skill training sessions. Youths had to help Mr. I design the shelter and get approval from the client, in this case, the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority. They received hourly pay while learning to take initiative and work as a team to complete the shelter from start to finish. Most of these youth were from the SouthSide area and see the shelter as a source of pride and a testament to the beloved Mr. Imagination who passed away in 2012.
"Homage to Humanity" (Sculptures), Karel Mikolas
The Banana Factory Courtyard, 25 W. 3rd StreetThe composition consists of three figures. The first, the Muse (one of the Greed Goddesses), has inspired creativity over the centuries. Although she has endured continuous abuse, she remains intact, powerful, always able to inspire anyone who is interested in purposeful life and humanity. The second, the average citizen, is puzzled by her indomitable ability. The third figure is disengaged. The sculptures were sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
"Joyful Experience" (Sculpture), Susan Small
The Banana Factory Courtyard, 25 W. 3rd StreetThe title “Joyful Experience” is in reference to the joy art-making brings to all who make, engage with, and love art! It is an exploration that lets you take your own path, following your own heart. The sculpture was submitted by Susan Small for the Banana Factory’s first outdoor sculpture competition in 2002 and the artist was encouraged to secure funding to make the sculpture a reality. The Puffin Foundation supported the purchase of supplies and hardware to create the sculpture and the Skrivanek Family donated the money for the fabrication of the stainless steel armature in honor of Catherine and Gustave, who had been dedicated Musikfest volunteers. One thousand rings, or “donuts”, were made with the help of family, friends, and fellow artists.
"BananaWORKS" (Mosaic Mural), Tomas Wolff, Olga Gonzalez, Jessica Acevedo, Erik Davis, Monique Dyer, Jesus Estrada, Byran Hughes, William Lopez, James Moseley, Pierre Poteat, Mercy Quinonez, Joseph Smith, Jessica Torres
The Banana Factory Courtyard, 25 W. 3rd StreetEntitled BananaWORKS, the community project program was patterned after one conceived in Chicago. 8 area youths ages 15 to 18 interested in art worked with local artists to create this piece.
"Vibrant Asymmetry" (Mural), Devyn Leonor Briggs
Lehigh Pizza, 13 W. 3rd StreetIn the Winter of 2018, Dr. Karen Beck Pooley of Lehigh University, Stacie Brennan of the Banana Factory and ArtsQuest, and the SouthSide Arts District’s Design Committee came together to create a Mural Arts Walk on the South Bethlehem Greenway – showcasing five temporary murals. Due to the public admiration for these pieces, the SouthSide Arts District applied for funding from Northampton County’s Community Investment Partnership Program to have each of these murals be permanently installed on exterior walls throughout the SouthSide streetscape.
The artist’s concept for this mural is an abstract design, keeping with her current paintings at the time of its creation in 2018. Ms. Briggs used color theory, balance, and asymmetry to create a vibrant composition with dynamic color relationships and polyrhythmic structures.
"Southbound" (Mural), Matt Halm
Corner of 3rd & New Street, 1. E. 3rd StreetThis 15′ x 25′ exterior mural was created by Matt Halm as part of the 2018 ArtsQuest’s SouthSide Arts & Music Festival. The work is inspired by the creative spirit and imagination of the growing art community on Bethlehem’s SouthSide.
"Steelworker"(Mural), Dripped on the Road
Parking Lot on Third Street, 24 W. 3rd StreetIn 2017, in conjunction with the ArtsQuest’s SouthSide Arts & Music Festival, Dripped on the Road ended a month-long traveling residency in Bethlehem where they visited 6 cities and completed 9 murals. Inspired by Bethlehem Steel, the mural of a Steel Worker was designed to highlight the past and the future of the SouthSide. The goal was to create something that reflected the city’s rich history, while also showcasing the work of talented artists DOTR Directors Denton Burrows, Jonathan Neville, Ramiro Davaro-Comas, and Lauren Asta.
"Power" (Mural), Christopher Colon
Apotheca Salon at the corner of Third and Adams Streets, 101 E. 3rd StreetIn an era where the women’s revolution is at its peak, there are more jobs and opportunities for women now more than ever, this mural looks to celebrate that. This mural has vibrant colors and a striking image that lights up the SouthSide. The symbolic reference to fighting for your dreams combined with the pop culture inspiration looks to inspire.
"Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Student Murals" (Murals), Students of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, 321 E. 3rd StreetThis public art project features the work from a group of junior and senior visual art majors and was financed by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Charter Arts Foundation Giving Circle. A grant from the council allowed the school to bring professional muralist Matthew Halm to mentor the students. Each mural features a rose — an important symbol at the school; each student receives a rose on the first day of school each year.
Working with Halm and Charter Arts faculty, the students also were challenged to design images that reflect life at the school, its Bethlehem community, and the diversity of the student body.
"Solar" (Bike rack), Austin Mcinnis and Julian Pelekanakis of Spillman Farmer Architects
The back of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, 398 Columbia StreetThis functional yet highly artistic bike rack was created as part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest. The project was designed to bring additional public art to the SouthSide while encouraging people to bike, shop, and dine on the SouthSide.
"The Love of Music" (Mural), Ramiro Davaro-Camos
Northampton Community College Fowler Family SouthSide Center, Fillmore, and Third Streets"I wanted to paint a happy scene of music notes with different music and heart iconography in the back. I like to use this illustrative character style because it is very recognizable and relatable for the youth. I believe the colors, along with the character design, will be very attractive to the community and hopefully many residents will take photos with this mural" - Ramiro Davaro-Camos
"Love" (Public Paino), Christopher Colon
Northampton Community College Fowler Family SouthSide Center, Fillmore, and Third StreetsThe SouthSide Arts District (an initiative of the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation – a non-profit organization) is a downtown revitalization program that works to improve the economic conditions for businesses and institutions located within the core business district of South Bethlehem. This project was part of the organization’s five-year strategic Design plan to bring more public art to South Bethlehem, shaping the community and business district collectively, and creating a sense of pride and connection.
Message from the Artist: I created a design based on the word “Love”. I’ve geared it more towards a fun celebration of color, leaving it up to the viewer to create the overall message.
"Molten Metal" (Bike Rack), Ethan Hahn
Northampton Community College Fowler Family SouthSide Center, 511 E. 3rd StreetThis artist-designed bike rack was part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest to bring more public art to the SouthSide. Designed by local resident, Ethan Hahn, this Molten Metal bike rack is a tribute to his father James who worked at the Bethlehem Steel.
"Hayes Street Mural" (Mural), Bella Pintura Inc.
414 Hayes StreetA project lead by the Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust and Community Action Develop Corporation of Bethlehem. The partnership was a restoration of the triplex home at 418-416-414 Hayes Street, giving the façade a complete makeover and masonry restoration by Preservation Works, Ltd. Thanks to help from Wells Fargo, this mural was part of the revitalization of this building. Holly Fields-Scott, owner of Bella Pintura Inc., worked with her daughter Nevada Scott and artist Joey Gourniak to complete the mural.
"Lehigh Valley Hawk" (Mural), Ramiro Davaro-Comas
SouthSide Lofts, 435 Hayes Street
In the Winter of 2018, Dr. Karen Beck Pooley of Lehigh University, Stacie Brennan of the Banana Factory and ArtsQuest, and the SouthSide Arts District’s Design Committee came together to create a Mural Arts Walkon the South Bethlehem Greenway – showcasing five temporary murals. Due to the public admiration for these pieces, the SouthSide Arts District applied for funding from Northampton County’s Community Investment Partnership Program to have each of these murals be permanently installed on exterior walls throughout the SouthSide streetscape. The artist’s concept for this mural is based on the Lehigh Valley’s Hawks and birds of prey. “I mixed a style of illustration with muralism, to create a lovable Hawk character mural surrounded by a wreath to mark its importance, and with various facts about Hawks written into the background of the mural. This aspect will engage the viewer, and invite them to look at the mural closer, and learn all ten facts about the Lehigh Hawks.” – Ramiro Davaro-Comas
"Lehigh University" (Mural), Maltas Con Leche
SouthSide Lofts, 435 Hayes StreetThe flowers around this mural were inspired by the landscape and plants around the Arts Walk. The design appears to have grown around and frames the windows with flowers and leaves. This mural was also one of the five from the 2018 Mural Arts Walk on the South Bethlehem Greenway. Designed by Rafael Menendez and his artist family “Maltas Con Leche” this fun and funky mural was created with ideas from students at Lehigh University.
"Calma" (Mural), Pau Quintanajornet
Café the Lodge, 427 East 4th StreetIn partnership with Café the Lodge, Pau Quintanajornet completed Calma as part of the 2019 ArtsQuest’s SouthSide Arts & Music Festival. The mural was a continuation of her “artivist” project “Project Wallflowers,” which she began in 2013. Pau met with local community members in advance to give feedback about the design. The mural, which was supported by ArtsQuest, Café the Lodge, Resources for Human Development and Just Born, was completed in Pau’s signature style while highlighting Café the Lodge’s mission focused on mental health recovery.
"Rebuilding and Remembering" (Mural), Devyn Leonor Briggs
The back of Victory House of Lehigh Valley (314 Fillmore Street) and the GreenwayThis piece celebrates the families that have joined our community after Hurricane Maria. It is also about growing up in two cultures and the strength that comes from being rooted in family, community, and culture. Devyn is a celebrated local artist, with a studio at the Banana Factory.
We’d like to thank Victory House of Lehigh Valley for hosting this mural. They are an amazing South Bethlehem nonprofit providing shelter and transitional services to homeless men, many of them veterans, for over 35 years. Please consider donating to this inspiring cause and helping those who have served to get back on their feet: https://www.victoryhouselv.org/donate/
"Diversity" (Mural), Maltas Con Leche
Café the Lodge Courtyard and the GreenwayMaltas Con Leche, a Latino Family of Artists, choose the theme of diversity for this mural project. “This image brings the word to life with respect to the SouthSide community, culture and spirit. We wanted to show diversity, and what we have in common. In the Valley – that’s food and our scenery.”
Café the Lodge is not only a delicious restaurant but provides housing and vocational opportunities for adults with mental health diagnoses. Please consider donating to this great institution, providing remarkable services for members of our community. Donations can be made here: https://www.rhd.org/program/cafe-the-lodge/
"I–Beam" (Bike Rack), Ethan Hahn
300 Block of 4th Street – (Parham Park next to Touchstone Theatre)This artist-designed bike rack was part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest to bring more public art to SouthSide. Designed by local resident, Ethan Hahn, this “I-Beam” bike rack is a tribute to his father James who worked at Bethlehem Steel.
"Yellow Vibrancy" (Mural), Amy Perdue
Bonn Place Brewing Company, 314 Taylor StreetThis small but mighty mural is at the entrance of Bonn Place Brewing. Created by artist Amy Perdue as part of the Mural Arts Walk on the South Bethlehem Greenway, this mural was part of five that went from the Greenway as temporary installations to permanent, thanks to the help of and funding from Northampton County’s Community Investment Partnership Program grant.
Amy Perdue is an artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation but is also active in painting, illustration, music, and poetry. Her work is based in conceptual art and shows some attributes of feminism, surrealism, minimalism, and abstract expressionism and is often infused with autobiographical content as well as her respect for the process. Amy received her B.F.A. in Sculpture from Arcadia University in 2013. She works as a full-time sculptor, consultant, and material specialist for her knowledge in working with silicones, resins, epoxies, and foams.
"Bonn Place Brewing Tribute" and Lehigh University Tribute (Murals), Denton Burrows and Key Detail
Bonn Place Brewing Company, 314 Taylor StreetTwo walls, two very different murals. The first is a black and white sketchbook style homage to Bonn Place Brewing Company painted by Denton Burrows, located on the Mechanic Street side of the building. The other on the back of Bonn Place is a vibrant, colorful piece designed by Key Detail, an artist duo from New York. The mural is a tribute to the downtown’s partner in revitalization Lehigh University and their school mascot – the Mountain Hawks.
"Stacks" (Bike Rack), Austin Mcinnis and Julian Pelekanakis
The South Bethlehem Greenway, Taylor Street, and the South Bethlehem GreenwayThis is the second bike rack designed by Austin Mcinnis and Julian Pelekanakis of Spillman Farmer Architects. Entitled “Stacks” this vibrant orange bike rack is meant to be symbiotic of the Bethlehem Streel Stacks. This bike rack, as well as 6 others, was created as part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest. The project was designed to bring additional public art to the SouthSide while encouraging people to bike, shop, and dine on the SouthSide.
"The Lehigh-Bethlehem Chinese Pavilion" (Structure), Norman Girardot, codirector
The South Bethlehem Greenway, The Greenway, Between Taylor and Webster StreetsThe Lehigh-Bethlehem Chinese Pavilion is an outgrowth of a Henry Luce Foundation-funded project called the Chinese Bridge Project, founded three years
ago at Lehigh University. Starting with the building of the 12th-century style Chinese rainbow bridge in 2010, the traditional style Chinese pavilion is the second venture of the project, which is concerned with bridging connections between American students and China from an interdisciplinary perspective focused on a hands-on kind of project, said Norman Girardot, co-director of the project.
“We’re bridging the Chinese and American cultures. We’re also bridging disciplines because we have people who are architects, chemists, engineers, and people who study cultural history to participate in the project,” said Girardot. “It represents another crucial bridging or partnering activity that links the university and the community. And the fact that it is on the Greenway is especially significant since that is the new lifeline that unites the whole South Side.”
This pavilion, inspired by the pavilions from the Tang and Song periods, is named “Harmony Pavilion,” symbolizing the spirit of people coming together for rest and reflection.
"Blue Herons", Virginia Abbott
The South Bethlehem Greenway, The Greenway, Between Taylor and Webster StreetsThe Blue Heron is a community work created by Banana Factory Resident Artist Virginia Abbott. In 2011, the Mayor joined Sculptor Virginia Abbott, Lehigh University President Alice Gast, and representatives of ArtsQuest and Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem to discuss public art that would be installed in the South Bethlehem Greenway. Ultimately, they decided on representing the Blue Heron because of the species’ historic presence in Bethlehem. The sculpture is made of many different materials including garden tools, household items, and smaller sculptures of animals assembled by Broughal Middle School students. The sculpture represents our history through our community.
"SouthSide Proud" (Mural), Joseph Iacona
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, 100 Fourth StreetThis mural was a collaboration with the artist, Community Action Development, and neighborhood residents to create a visual representation of the “SouthSide Proud Campaign”. The campaign centers on community members and residents sharing why they are proud to be a part of the SouthSide and what is it about the SouthSide that makes them proud.
"Sustainable Meter Rack" (Bike Rack), Lehigh University’s Design Collective
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, 4 E. 4th StreetThis artist-designed bike rack was part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest to bring more public art to SouthSide. Designed by Lehigh University’s Design Collective program, this bike rack titled “Sustainable Meter Rack” showcases 5 arched over parking meters. Artists included in this project were Deanna Kocher, Christian Murphy, John Flory, Burian Sizemore, Noah Saltzman, Elana Abrams, Gibson Reine, as well as three professors Mike Moore, Brian Slocum, and Wes Heiss.
"Bethlehem" (Window Mural), Collaboration of Freebridge Design Co. and Homebase Skateshop
Homebase Skateshop, 29 W. 4th StreetBased on the City of Bethlehem Map Collection – this one-of-a-kind window mural pays homage to Bethlehem – and Homebase Skateshop’s home for the past 17 years!
"Lehigh Bike Rack Bar" (Bike Rack), Lehigh University’s Design Collective
Deja Brew, 101 W. 4th StreetThis artist-designed bike rack was built by the Lehigh University’s Design Collective as part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest to bring more public art to the SouthSide. Students of Lehigh adore Deja Brew, and the team built this horizontal bike rack and table to offer bikers a chance to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. Stop and look at the table to see an engraved map of the town. Artists included in this project were Deanna Kocher, Christian Murphy, John Flory, Burian Sizemore, Noah Saltzman, Elana Abrams, Gibson Reine, as well as three professors Mike Moore, Brian Slocum, and Wes Heiss.
"Stained Glass SteelStacks" (Mural), Lauren Kuhn
Tally Ho, 205 W. 4th StreetLauren Kuhn manages a studio as a resident and teaching artist at the Banana Factory Arts Center (Studio 345) where she specializes in custom, commissioned oil paintings that offer an opportunity to capture a ‘moment’ in lieu of a basic likeness. Lauren was selected to create this work and reflect on the history of South Bethlehem and bring that word to life.
"Ribbon Rack" (Bike Rack), Lehigh University’s Design Collective
Dunkin' Donuts, 205 W. 4th StreetThis artist-designed bike rack was built by the Lehigh University’s Design Collective as part of a community art project between the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest to bring more public art to the SouthSide. The contest gave Lehigh’s designers and engineers an amazing design opportunity, said Brian Slocum, an adviser to the design collective and managing director of Lehigh’s Wilbur Powerhouse and Design Labs. “It allowed us to blend a real-world design challenge with an impactful project for the local community,” Slocum said in a news release. “The students responded with unparalleled enthusiasm for the opportunity and came up with exciting designs.” Artists included in this project were Deanna Kocher, Christian Murphy, John Flory, BurianSizemore, Noah Saltzman, Elana Abrams, Gibson Reine, as well as three professors Mike Moore, Brian Slocum, and Wes Heiss.