ArtsQuest’s Rotating Sculptures

By Amber Galdamez, Communications Coordinator

Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District is quickly growing into a well-respected area for artists and creatives to show and sell their work. Like hidden flowers sprouting up between blocks of concrete, residents and guests of SouthSide will catch sight of brightly colored wall murals and unique sculptures as they make their way down the street. To those who frequent the neighborhood, it may seem as though new public art features spring up overnight. However, the SouthSide’s arts initiatives are an ever-growing work-in-progress that requires a great deal of planning, as well as the assistance of artists who have a passion for the community.

One of the newest art projects to be introduced to the SouthSide is the rotating sculpture space at SteelStacks. Located in front of the St. Luke’s Visitor Center, this dedicated space features a large-scale sculpture that changes annually, highlighting the work of artists and sculptors throughout the region. The sculpture base was installed and paid for by The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem.

“The RDA has been encouraging and working collaboratively with ArtsQuest in making the campus more accessible to larger outdoor sculpture and we look forward to continuing to create opportunities for artists to showcase their work,” says Tony Hanna, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority.

Stacie Brennan, Senior Director of Visual Arts at ArtsQuest, sees this project as an awareness campaign for public art, as well as a way for ArtsQuest in partnership with the City of Bethlehem to support artists in the community and give them opportunities to exhibit and gain exposure for their work. Brennan credits the idea partially to award winning artist Steve Tobin, who loaned ArtsQuest some of his sculptures for use on the campus as a way to help revitalize the city and bring art awareness to the arts district. Brennan sees Tobin’s sculpture, a towering depiction of tree roots stationed the Visitor Center, as a launching point for the concept of non-permanent public art. After the initial success of his installations, the idea of bringing another piece to the campus was discussed.

“This new installation provides the opportunity to establish a sculpture residency and work as a sort of ‘rotating sculpture program,’” Brennan says. “It’s a huge benefit because it gives us an opportunity to bring in different artist aesthetics, materials and things we can test out the public’s interaction with.”

Nationally renowned sculptor and 2017 Linny Award winner Emil Lukas expressed interest in being part of the sculpture program and lent one of his pieces that had never been displayed in a public setting before. After the pad for the sculpture was finished, Lukas’ piece–an extraordinary “optical wall”–was placed adjacent to the SteelStacks blast furnaces in the fall.

Guests can stop by the Visitor Center to see Lukas’ “Optic Wall” and take some amazing photos of (or with) the unique sculpture. With continued support and funding, ArtsQuest hopes to continue this program, showcasing new art and artists throughout the city.