Following the city’s founding as “The Bethlehem of North America” by Moravian Christian reformist and utopian settlers in 1741, it later enjoyed an industrial heyday in the late 19th to 20th centuries as the capital of America’s steel industry and then saw a subsequent collapse during the 1980s. Bethlehem, in its layered history, echoes the hopes, histories, and values of many North American cities, particularly those in the Rust Belt. Attie’s project explores this distinctly American brew of religious utopian fervor, industrial capitalism’s rise and fall, and, finally, its reinvention in catering to the dreams of making it big on the part of casino goers. The completed artwork is a hybrid video and sculptural installation which juxtaposes and examines Bethlehem’s past and present. The piece comprises a central sculpture centered between two channels of synchronized video. The sculpture is inspired by the existing 90-foot-tall, brightly lit Bethlehem Star on Bethlehem’s South Mountain, built by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce in 1937 as a commercially minded endeavor to brand Bethlehem as The Christmas City. The star on the hill is brightly lit in “Christmas white” and, on a clear evening, is visible for 60 miles. For more information about Shimon Attie and this upcoming exhibition, visit us at luag.org. What Matters Most August 24, 2022–May 27, 2023 The Gallery at Rauch Business Center • Dubois Gallery • Fairchild-Martindale Study Gallery • Seigel Gallery • South Bethlehem Greenway Over the past year, over 100 Lehigh students, faculty, staff, and local community members were asked ‘what matters most?’ Contributors discussed issues and selected works of art from LUAG's collection that help us expand, explore, and connect our ideas. We invite you to visit the exhibition in four of our campus galleries, as well as along the South Bethlehem Greenway. Be sure to attend our free programs and events. Tag @luartgalleries and #WhatMattersMost to add your voice to the conversation. Explore Lehigh's outdoor sculpture collection with our new digital guide, featuring student-produced videos. For more information, please contact the Lehigh University Art Galleries Teaching Museum at (610) 758-3615 or visit luag.org. For more information about on-campus dining options, including locations and hours, please visit lehigh.sodexomyway.com. When you return home, enjoy this recipe book with some of your favorite Lehigh treats! Off-Campus Dining For local eateries and more, visit the Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley page. 13
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