The fifth annual Hope and Healing Juried Art Show for high school and college students took place March 4 at the Banana Factory/Crayola Gallery, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem.

Students donated original artwork promoting "hope and healing by communicating a message of peace, calm, comfort and inspiration."

The show's purpose was to inspire hope and healing by increasing the awareness art brings in healing, to create art for hospitals and healing facilities where viewers seek inspiration to heal and to provide students with opportunities to explore creativity and create art to help others.

Judges Bill Childs, Elyse Coldren, Santa Bannon and Steve Lemak viewed the artwork and selected first and second place winners at the college level and first, second and third at the high school level.

In addition, a number of students received Community Honor Awards, chosen by anyone who wanted to select a piece, name the award and fund the prize.

During the award ceremony, coordinator Heather Rodale talked about a well-known study by Roger Ulrich Ph.D. which found "patients who looked out to a view of trees went home from the hospital at least one day sooner than those who looked out to a brick wall.

Patients with a view of nature needed fewer doses of pain medication. Research continued to show patients with access to views of nature or art were less stressed and more hopeful and optimistic about treatment options.

Following the show, hospitals and health care facilities had the opportunity to request and receive artwork from the show to be placed in patient rooms or treatment areas where patients often spend long hours.

Artists from Cedar Crest College included Kiersten Collins, Shanna Hawke, Robbie Matthews, Bruce Palmenta and Danyelle Snyder.

Student artists from Kutztown University included Katelynn Chambers, Alexandra Chapman, Shannon Cowie, Heather Fox, Andrew Hughmanick, Sarah Kane, Heather Marcus, Alyssa Morris, Michelle Rohrer, Luda Ronky, Alicia Wrye and Julia Wolf.

Student artist Arianna Bartolacci of Schnecksville,attends Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Parkland High School artists included Noah Richard Guth, Joseph Harps, Alyssa Tauber and Abigail R. Bull.

For the 2016 show, students must register to participate by Dec. 1. The final date for donations is Jan. 8, 2016.

For more information, visit htta.org.