Although the former Banana Factory Arts Center at 25 W. Third St. is gone, the creative beat goes on a few blocks east at the ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way.

“With classes and camps taking place in local schools, colleges, the Bethlehem Area Public Library and more, we’ll be able to bring our visual arts and education programming outward,” said ArtsQuest Director of Communications Jennifer LoConte. “And, we are still on campus too — with programs like First Friday, Toddler Storytime, art exhibitions and more taking place at both our Visitor Center and the ArtsQuest Center.”

New Jersey-based singer-songwriters Pat Foran and Ginger Coyle took turns performing on the Williams Brew Stage on the first floor of the ArtsQuest Center at the March 7 First Friday while patrons enjoyed drinks and snacks.

The visual arts dominated the venue with “Claire Marcus: Industrial Strength,” an exhibition of photographic collages printed on silk and stitched together by Marcus, an original Banana Factory resident artist, in the Alvin H. Butz Gallery. Born in New York City, the Bethlehem resident holds a BA in architecture and an MFA in painting from the University of Pennsylvania. The artist and ArtsQuest educator works out of her home studio and teaches at the Visitor Center.

Tied to Marcus’s exhibit, a free art-making workshop in the gallery was taught by artist Emma Ryan on embroidered collages. She was assisted by ArtsQuest Visual Arts Manager Elena Ostock and Visual Arts Assistant Aliya Brown.

In a nearby room, certified Bob Ross instructor Chris Severn from Bethlehem Township taught a ticketed “Paint like Bob Ross” class.

Marcus joined some of her fellow artists in setting up tables as March First Friday vendors.

Among those participating in the First Friday Pop Up Art Market hosted at ArtsQuest were: Robin Gow and Rain Black, Jason Miller, Taylor Hilt, Mia Kline, Dayanarh Romero and Nancy Sullivan.

This is an opportunity for local artists to showcase and sell their work during these community events with different artists featured each month.

“We’ve actually expanded even more into the community to reach more folks that will help to discover new and emerging artists, too,” said LoConte on how ArtsQuest proceeds as the closed W. Third Street campus is razed and rebuilt.

For more information, call 610-332-1300 or visit artsquest.org.