Arts & Culture
Lehigh-led mural nurtures love for local plant & wildlife
The mural will be added to Bethlehem’s Urban Arts Trail
On Friday, May 1, Lehigh University Professor Deirdre Murphy and her class unveiled Steel Rooted / Wild Blooms, a vibrant two-panel mural on the deck of Country Club Brewing, to an enthusiastic crowd of community members.
The brewery, located at 323 Pierce Street, sits along the City of Bethlehem’s SouthSide Greenway, a popular walking and biking trail for residents. Deirdre’s class created the mural to highlight the region’s native ecosystems and history while celebrating its beauty, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity and environmental resilience.
Over the spring semester, the class dedicated approximately 750 combined hours to the project. This included researching the subject matter and public art process, gathering resident feedback, and, of course, creating the final design and painting it.
“We commend Deirdre’s students for the respect and care they showed for the community and the public art process,” said Katy Knibbs, Assistant Manager for Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District. “This mural is a fine example of what can be achieved when businesses and property owners partner with our local students and educators. It makes something beautiful for everyone to enjoy, and we hope it inspires similar collaborations in the future.”
The mural will be added to Bethlehem’s Urban Arts Trail, which can be found at southsideartsdistrict.com.
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