Bethlehem, PA (August 29, 2019) – Please join Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez as we celebrate the addition of five new murals to the public art streetscape of the SouthSide Arts District, Thursday August 29^th from 2:30pm – 3:30pm at the SouthSide Lofts, located at 435 Hayes Street, Bethlehem 18015.  

Project History:

In 2018, a collaborative effort led by Lehigh University, ArtsQuest and SouthSide Arts District created the SouthSide Mural Arts Project. Together, five artists/artist groups designs were juried and selected to be displayed on the South Bethlehem Greenway Spring of 2018. These artists included:

1. Rafael Menendez & Family of Maltas Con Leche – Local Family of Artists
2. Ramiro Davaro – Comas – Member of Dripped Down the Road – the artist group that created the Steel Workers Mural on 3^rdStreet
3. Devyn Briggs – Local Banana Factory Resident Artist
4. Joseph Iacona – Muralist from Philadelphia (http://josephiacona.com)
5. Amy Perdue – Local Artist – recently moved to Seattle

Each group was given a four-foot by eight-foot parachute cloth to recreate their approved design. These works were then attached to temporary easels and displayed on the Greenway during the SouthSide Arts and Music Festival and beyond.

The public outcry of admiration for these works lead the SouthSide Arts District to apply for the Northampton County Community Investment Partnership Program to have these murals become a permanent part of the SouthSide streetscape. Their contribution made it possible for these works to be repaired and brighten, adhered to an alumilite panel and installed onto exterior business walls of the SouthSide, where they can be appreciated for many years to come. The murals can be found at the following locations:

1. Devyn Briggs – Lehigh Pizza, 13 W. 3^rd Street
2. Amy Perdue – Bonn Place Brewing, 310-14 Taylor Street
3. Ramiro Davaro-Comas – the SouthSide Lofts, 435 Hayes Street
4. Maltas Con Leche – the SouthSide Lofts, 435 Hayes Street
5. Joseph Iacona – Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, 4 E. 4^thStreet

We are especially proud of the Joseph Iacona’s mural “SouthSide Proud” outside of Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub. The 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.

Please join us Thursday, August 29^th at 2:30pm – 3:30pm to formally celebrate these vibrant additions to the SouthSide business district.

Organization History:

The SouthSide Arts District is an extension of the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation focused on creating a thriving SouthSide business district. It follows the Main Street America four-point approach to revitalization. These four points – Promotion, Design, Economic Vitality and Organization each have a committee of volunteers from the business community dedicated to fulfilling tasks within a revitalization strategic plan.

Art is an integral part of the SouthSide community. Home to the Banana Factory, SouthSide Lofts, Zoellner Arts Center, Touchstone Theatre, the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and Steel Stacks Campus – it has artistic opportunities at every corner of the district. It is the soul of the SouthSide community – and as such we are using it to economically develop the business district. Research has proven that arts and economic development are tied together. It creates connections to multiple communities and lifestyles. And with that in mind, the SouthSide Arts District organization is dedicated to bringing more public art of all kinds to the streets of the South Bethlehem to make art accessible to everyone – residents, business professionals and tourists.

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