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When the SouthSide Arts District faced a troublesome intersection in Bethlehem with heavy traffic from vehicles and foot traffic from pedestrians, there was an urgency to come up with a creative solution. As a result, Lehigh Valley Health Network, the SouthSide Arts District and Northampton County collaborated to install the Lehigh Valley’s first-ever street mural. Visitors to the Third and Adams streets intersection of Southside Bethlehem can now awe at the colorful reminder to be kind rendered by muralists Sarah Karess and Mounir Mulhem.
An inspiring intersection
After learning about the calming effects of street murals in heavily trafficked areas, SouthSide Arts District manager Missy Hartney knew that Southside Bethlehem could benefit. SouthSide Arts District adopted the street mural as its annual public art project for 2021. Calling for submissions, artists were challenged to materialize a traffic-calming concept with emphasis on community building. The selection committee would agree upon Karess and Mulhem’s submission for its emphasis on paying kindness forward.
“We really loved the mission behind their submission,” says Hartney. “The community really needs to come together and have that kind of respect, love and kindness for one another.”
Be kind, be well
Karess and Mulhem were inspired by a viral video of an Australian man, David James, gifting flowers to strangers on the street. Drawing from the act of random kindness, each corner of the street mural uniquely features hands extending out with flowers.
“This mural intends to remind the Bethlehem community to be kind – to each other and to oneself,” wrote Karess and Mulhem of their concept. “By doing so, we will be well together.”
Karess and Mulhem are friends, graphic designers by day and graduates of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. They collaborated on this project as personal challenge to step out of their comfort zones.
Enjoy this art walk
The street mural was unveiled Friday, Sept. 3 during the September First Friday. This work of public art is now part of Southside Bethlehem’s Urban Arts Trail for public enjoyment.