OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 100 YEARS, LUAG HAS DEVELOPED AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION that spans the globe and 5,000 years of art, Crow says. “As we celebrate this major milestone, we should not neglect the artists and the creativity of the people who are right here in our community, because the Lehigh Valley is certainly a place that’s growing leaps and bounds in terms of its creative production and the artists living and working here,” Crow says. “We are here to connect artists, neighbors and people from all walks of life, with the goal of becoming their go-to site for a wide range of experiences. We are their museum, and we are here to support them.” That was the idea behind LUAG’s latest exhibition: “Here and Now: 100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists.” The exhibition will run from Sept. 2, 2025 through May 22, 2026, featuring 100 works by local artists. It will serve as the catalyst for a series of receptions, lectures, community workshops and special events. A kickoff for the exhibition is planned from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, called “Light Up LUAG.” The free event will include artmaking, food, music and other Lena Weisman ’22 was introduced to LUAG during an exhibitions course in her sophomore year. She majored in history with a concentration in women, gender and sexuality studies and enjoyed LUAG for the hands-on experience. During her senior year, Weisman did a full-semester research project that became the first exhibition for LUAG LAB, an interdisciplinary project space inside the main gallery in Zoellner Arts Center. Her project, “Reimagining Museums,” examined how immersive technology could enhance the museum experience. One aspect was a “digital overlay” on a painting with various touchpoints a viewer could select to learn more about the work. “My time with LUAG and the high-level responsibilities I had were very transformative for me,” Weisman says. “They didn’t just teach me how to think, but how to do.” Weisman credits that experience with helping her land her current role as executive director of Gloucester Main Street in Virginia, where she leads community development, historic preservation and economic growth in rural Virginia. At LUAG, Weisman says she learned how to look at “both the big picture and small details.” “That skill is 100% essential in what I do every day. We are doing strategic planning right now, and I’m not just thinking about five or 10 years down the road, but also next week,” Weisman says. Gloucester is a small town similar to South Bethlehem, and Weisman sees the effect art has on the community. “People gather around art, they invest in art and they invest in communities that have art. It brings business, it brings historic preservation and building rehabilitation,” Weisman says. ART, STRATEGY AND SMALL-TOWN REVIVAL 100 YEARS, 100 ARTISTS “My time with LUAG and the high-level responsibilities I had were very transformative for me.”—Lena Weisman ’22 26 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN Lena Weisman ’22
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