A beautiful new mural now graces Bethlehem’s Southside. It is the creation of artist and teacher Carla Majczan, and there is magic in her artwork. Fruits and vegetables tumble softly from a heart of vines down into waiting hands.

The title of the mural is Harmony with Health. Its purpose is to call attention to the fact that Bethlehem‘s Southside exists in a food desert. The subject matter is dear to the artist, who has type one diabetes. She said, “I was diagnosed at 11 years old, my mom changed how the family ate.”

“I’m really proud of this mural. It’s my first one with my full design.” (The Hobart Stairs was a partnership, and the DaVinci Center Mural was based on photos and drawings from children.)

“This plum, it took three hours to paint. Plums are not easy.” She is especially proud of the pear.

Majczan also did a Family Painting Night at ArtsQuest to help finish some of the base painting. “I got super emotional when we did the Community Paint. Natalie and Ivy were there. Afterward I said, ‘I can’t thank you guys enough.’

“I spend a lot of time on this mural, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without these kids. A lot of the kids come back,” she said of volunteer high school students. “Natalie plans to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, but still says she will come back to paint with me.” The high school students and National Junior Honor Society students receive community service hours for volunteering. “Last year I had Luke in my class. He is very talented, and does his own thing. I asked him to come back for the mural.” Majczan had about 25 student volunteers, chosen from a larger pool of applicants. “What we do as teachers is important, but this gives them a real world experience,” Majczan said at the ribbon cutting.

Majczan’s family and friends helped too. “My mom made sure I was eating, she made food for me. My boyfriend ran back and forth bringing me paint, and coffee.”

Majczan worked at home, and brought panels in for students to help with after school. Sometime she, “came in early to finish sections.” She started at East Hills MS, where she teaches Art. When the school year ended, she moved most of the materials to Broughal MS, which allowed her to bring her service dog, Violet.

Then came the process of placing the finished mural on the wall. First, the wall needed to be primed (Carla outsourced that work). Then she needed to rent a lift, so that she and a helper could apply the mural to the wall. The process involved adhesive and a seal coat. It is the same process used to create Kent Twitchell’s three-story Dr. J mural in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood. Majczan’s friend Jon Laidacker was involved in installing that mural, and lent his expertise. Another friend, Chris Miller, whom Majczan has known since college, also helped apply the panels. It took several days, and Majczan hand painted the windowsills.

Majczan plans to do more murals in the future. She said “My friend from the Humane Society and I were talking about doing a mural there. This opportunity opens up more opportunities. “

Majczan has also been talking with ArtsQuest about having a room or two for mural artists when the new building is finished.

The Harmony with Health mural was funded by ArtsQuest, and the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Southside Arts District.

ArtsQuest received over 20 submissions for the mural. A committee of representatives from ArtsQuest, the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, Lehigh University Art Galleries, and the Southside Arts District selected Carla’s design.

When the work was finished and the rented lift was returned, a ribbon cutting was held at the site of the mural, at 331 Broadway, across the parking lot from Seven Sirens Brewing Company, and across Broadway from Ideal Food Basket. It is large enough to be seen from a few blocks away.

“We are here to celebrate this incredible new mural. This is a great opportunity, terrific location, very intentional in design, showcasing the importance of access to healthy food. South Bethlehem is a food desert. Majczan’s design has done an incredible job,” said ArtsQuest Senior Director of Visual Arts and Education Lisa Harms.

The two markets in South Bethlehem, Ideal Food Basket and CTown, made a donation to New Bethany Ministries in honor of the new mural.