Inspired by Woody Guthrie’s iconic song, LUAG’s fall exhibition explores American identity, ownership, and geography – launching with a free, public Opening Party and special performance featuring C. F. Martin & Co. CEO Chris Martin and guitarist Craig Thatcher on Tuesday, September 1
BETHLEHEM, PA – August 11, 2026 — As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Lehigh University Art Galleries is pleased to announce its major fall exhibition, This Land: Reimagining The United States of America on its 250th Anniversary. On view from September 1 through December 4, 2026 in LUAG’s Main Gallery (inside Zoellner Arts Center), the exhibition explores complex questions of national identity, geography, and history through artworks from the LUAG collection, alongside artifacts from the C.F. Martin & Co. archives.
To celebrate the exhibition’s opening, the public is invited to a “first look” reception on Tuesday, September 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Following the reception, Zoellner Arts Center presents An Evening with Martin Guitar, a special performance and conversation featuring sixth-generation C.F. Martin & Co. CEO Chris Martin alongside acclaimed local guitarist Craig Thatcher.
Reimagining This Land on America’s 250th Anniversary
Inspired by Woody Guthrie’s iconic folk anthem “This Land Is Your Land,” the This Land exhibition challenges traditional concepts of ownership, borders, and national storytelling. Organized into six thematic sections – America: Reimagining the Dream, Sounds of Freedom: Reimagining Protest, Sense of Place: Reimagining the Land, Where Am I? Reimagining Maps, Flexible or Fixed? Reimagining Symbols, and The University: Reimagining Learning – visitors are invited to re-examine the complex history, present realities, and evolving future of the United States.
“As our country reflects on 250 years, art offers a lens for deeper questions about who we are and where we are going,” says LUAG Director William Crow. “This Land uses the power of visual culture to foster dialogue, creative reflection, and new possibilities for our shared future. We are thrilled to invite our campus and regional community into this conversation.”
The exhibition was co-curated by Florencia San Martín, Assistant Professor of Art History in the Department of Art, Architecture and Design at Lehigh University; and Mark Wonsidler, LUAG Curator of Exhibitions and Collections.
“Art is a powerful tool that invites us to reflect on what, in the late 19th century, the Cuban poet José Martí called ‘Our America,’ expanding the term’s ongoing possibilities across multiple forms of belonging, remembering, and creating together,” says San Martín.
“The United States itself – like the works of art in the exhibition – is an act of the imagination that continually calls for reinvention, reinvestment, and fresh perspectives,” adds Wonsidler. “The visual artists and musicians represented in This Land challenge our assumptions and advocate for an America they would like to live in.”
Exhibition Highlights
Featured works in This Land include pieces from LUAG’s permanent collection by celebrated artists such as Faith Ringgold, Keith Haring, and Ana Mendieta alongside historical artifacts on loan from the C. F. Martin & Co. Archives.
The exhibition will feature interactive experiences including a library space where visitors can peruse literature that expands on the exhibit’s core themes. A “Sounds of Freedom” space will welcome visitors of all ages and abilities to interact directly with art and activism through a listening station with vintage vinyl and a record player, lyric-writing and art-making stations, and an instrument corner featuring loaner Martin guitars.
Included in a robust slate of planned exhibition programming is a 6-part series of intimate, acoustic performances featuring local musicians within the space. In partnership with Lehigh Valley 250, this program has been supported by funding from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office.
Opening Reception & An Evening with Martin Guitar | Tuesday, September 1
The exhibition officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 1 with a special double-header evening featuring a free “first look” reception followed by a performance and storytelling event with C. F. Martin & Co. presented by Zoellner Arts Center.
5:00-7:00pm This Land Exhibition Launch and First Look
LUAG Main and Lower Galleries, Zoellner Arts Center
Be among the first to explore the exhibition! Enjoy music, refreshments, and community at this first-look launch party. The reception is FREE and all are welcome; no ticket required. More information and RSVP at LUAG.org/events.
7:00-8:30pm An Evening with Martin Guitar
Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center
C. F. Martin & Co. Chris Martin shares stories from over 35 years of leading the iconic company, along with musical accompaniment by guitarist Craig Thatcher. Performance tickets are Choose-What-You-Pay and available at zoellnerartscenter.org.
About Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG)
Since 1926, Lehigh University Art Galleries has served as the university’s free, public art museum, dedicated to advancing critical thinking, cultural understanding, and well-being for both the campus and the surrounding community. The museum’s permanent collection of over 20,000 works of art is displayed across seven campus gallery spaces, including its Main Galleries inside Zoellner Arts Center, located on the edge of Lehigh’s campus.
Beyond the museum walls, LUAG’s collection extends across university grounds and beyond, with 56 outdoor campus sculptures and public exhibitions along the South Bethlehem Greenway – making art an integral part of the Lehigh and South Bethlehem experience. With a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, LUAG serves as a cultural and educational resource for campus and the wider community – inviting all to explore, reflect, and connect with art.
Information provided to TVL by:
Kiera Wilhelm
