New 'Steel Rooted / Wild Blooms' mural debuts in South Bethlehem
An interdisciplinary Lehigh University student team created a public mural at Country Club Brewing that celebrates local biodiversity, pollinators and environmental stewardship.
Steel Rooted / Wild Blooms: Interdisciplinary Student Mural Celebrates Biodiversity in Bethlehem
Bethlehem, PA — May 1, 2026 — A new public mural celebrating local biodiversity and environmental stewardship will be unveiled this spring through an innovative collaboration at Lehigh University. Steel Rooted / Wild Blooms is the result of a cross-disciplinary course uniting students from the departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), Environmental Studies (EVST), and Art, Architecture, and Design (AAD).
Led by Assistant Teaching Professor Deirdre Murphy, the course brings together students from diverse academic backgrounds to explore environmental issues through public art. Approximately half of the class represents the arts, while the other half comes from scientific disciplines, fostering a dynamic exchange between research and creative practice.
Students began the project by engaging deeply with ecological topics, including biodiversity, conservation, and speciation, through lectures by EES faculty and researchers. Community engagement played a central role, with students gathering input from Bethlehem residents to help shape the mural’s themes and imagery. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students conducted research on subjects ranging from regional watershed systems to local land history. These investigations informed initial mural proposals, which were refined through critiques with visiting artist Jason Slowik, Southside Arts District and Bethlehem Fine Arts Council. The final design reflects a collaborative vision grounded in both scientific insight and artistic expression.
Installed on the patio of Country Club Brewing (323 Pierce Street), the mural features native flora and fauna significant to the Bethlehem region. Species depicted include the red fox, eastern mole, chimney swifts (the Bethlehem city bird), and the endangered blue-spotted salamander and rusty patched bumblebee. Native plants such as pawpaw, coneflowers, and paper birch highlight the ecological importance of pollinator habitats, while a cultivated hops plant pays tribute to the brewery setting.
By foregrounding these species, Steel Rooted / Wild Blooms aims to foster environmental awareness and a deeper connection to local ecosystems among community members and visitors alike.
We are grateful for the sponsorship from Lehigh University’s Earth Environmental Science program and the Marjorie Nemes foundation, Environmental Studies department, Art, Architecture and Design, Country Club Brewery, Southside Arts District and Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission
A public ribbon-cutting event will take place:
Friday, May 1, 2026
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Country Club Brewing
323 Pierce St, Bethlehem, PA
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit: https://wordpress.lehigh.edu/mural-arts/
The post A new mural blooms in South Bethlehem first appeared on SouthSide Arts District.