Southside Arts District exhibits are now being displayed for public enjoyment in the open air along the Greenway.

A celebration of South Bethlehem murals Oct. 21 revealed the Public Art Easels; replicas of original art that promote the Southside as not only an artistic community but also one that can thrive as a business district when the two work together.

The project was made possible through a partnership with St. Luke’s University Hospital to enhance the Greenway’s unique combination of art, literacy and fitness.

“We’re thrilled for this opportunity to produce educational programming, discussions and various events around these easels that can cultivate conversation and bring light to our vibrancy and issues that face our community, health and future,” said Southside Arts District Downtown Manager Missy Hartney. “We could not have accomplished this without St. Luke’s University Health Network. They have been the perfect partner to bring this new public art opportunity to life.”

The first exhibit, “Untold Stories,” was created in cooperation with St. Luke’s Community & Preventive Medicine, New Bethany Ministries and Touchstone Theatre’s Festival UnBound. The Untold Stories Art Program at New Bethany is designed to provide homeless and near-homeless individuals the means to partake in a mindfulness-based practice of the healing arts while also creating work that shines light on the landscape of homelessness here in Bethlehem and in the Lehigh Valley. The artwork on display in this exhibit are products of this thoughtful program.

The second exhibit, “Healing Arts,” showcases the relationship between art and health, and spotlights several art programs that St. Luke’s offers for its patients and employees. The exhibit includes “Circles of Care”– a collaborative piece created by nearly 150 patients during their time in the hospital.

The other three easels exhibit St. Luke’s Healing Arts Center, a homeless advisory board, facts about homelessness within Northampton county, a “Why I Create Art” feature, and more. “Art and the act of creating something can be a wonderful distraction for our patients,” said Kristen Ward, St. Luke’s Healing Arts program coordinator. “Many of our patients remark on how it helps them relieve stress and pass the time while receiving their care.”

The current exhibit will remain up until the spring and will be changed out quarterly.