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Featured Image: 2020 Musikfest poster created by Doug Boehm
ArtsQuest unveils new artwork with projections across the city; Musikfest merch, including glow-in-dark mug, arrive in time for holidays
BETHLEHEM, PA–Beginning with mysterious projections on well-known buildings throughout the city and ending with a grand unveiling celebration this past weekend at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, the 2020 Musikfest poster reveal has been anything but ordinary. The poster, created by award-winning painter and illustrator Doug Boehm, pays tribute to the transformation the City of Bethlehem has undergone the past few decades and emphasizes the power arts and music play in the revitalization of industrial spaces.
“My gritty style derived from my fascination with urban and industrial decay and the overwhelming power of nature and how it replenishes itself,” says Boehm. “The Lehigh Valley has offered an over-abundance of both of my fascinations. I remember being in awe of the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces, with its menacing presence as if it was straight out of a Batman comic.”
The poster incorporates important pieces of the Lehigh Valley’s history, including the “Mystery Musician Tower” that’s rises from where the Martin Tower once stood, like a sort of musical god. From the SteelStacks playing drums, to the Historic Bethlehem Tannery between Hotel Bethlehem and the Moravian Church, the poster honors the history of Bethlehem and Musikfest, while also adding a fun and mystifying flair.
“Musikfest is my favorite creative project of the year, and this year is no exception,” says ArtsQuest Lead Creative Juliann Masenheimer. “Using projection mapping for our reveal allowed the community to interact with the art and created an experience that our audience will never forget. I think this is just the beginning of things to come with ArtsQuest, and I love that I am able to push boundaries and be a part of it all.”
The projections began Nov. 15 at Moravian College with a spaceship takeover and continued the following week with giant wings, cowboys and spacemen at Five10 Flats, Bethlehem City Hall and Main Street Commons. The complete poster unveiling took place on the exterior wall of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks on Nov. 23. In celebration of the massive reveal crowds gathered outside the main entrance to the ArtsQuest Center to hear from ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert, Boehm and digital artist and projectionist Jason Zulli, a professor at Northampton Community College who used his skills in illustration and projection mapping to bring the artwork to life. TechniCom of Orefield provided the high-powered projectors and equipment needed to display the artwork on iconic buildings throughout the city.
“TechniCom is very honored to be a part of this digital mapping project,” says TechniCom President Bill Carmody III. “It is a great way to give a little pop to your meeting or event, and with the great partnership that is fostering between TechniCom and the ArtsQuest team, my hope is that this is the first of many projects we can showcase for the community!”
Musikfest 2020 Mug & Merch Arrive
In addition to the new poster, ArtsQuest has rolled out a limited amount of 2020 Musikfest merchandise featuring the new artwork. The new merch items include the first ever Musikfest glow-in-the-dark mug, a zip-up hoodie, long sleeve t-shirt and stickers. Items are available now and can be purchased at store.artsquest.org.
One of the largest music festivals in the nation, Musikfest features more than 500 performances on 17 stages throughout Bethlehem over 10 days. Dates for the 37th edition of the festival are July 31-Aug. 9, 2020. For more information, visit www.musikfest.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
