- A new mural depicting a charging bison on 9th and Hamilton streets in Allentown is nearly complete
- Artists Matt Halm and Hector Castro, prolific mural artists in the area, are working together to bring it to life
- The mural joins a growing array of public art in downtown Allentown
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown's newest mural at 9th and Hamilton streets is nearing completion, bringing a new splash of color to the increasingly urbanizing area.
Depicting a charging and colorful bison, the large mural encompasses the walls of seven floors of the Cityplace apartment building.
The mural is by local muralists and artists Matt Halm and Hector Castro, both of whom have done previous mural work around the Lehigh Valley.
Both artists were recognized by Allentown Arts Commission's Arts Ovation Awards — Halm for dedication to the arts and community, and Castro as an emerging artist.
Allentown Arts Commission is not involved in the project but voiced support for it and shared its progress on social media.
City Center Allentown commissioned the mural, which sits across the street and around the corner from the PPL building.
City Center, which has led many large-scale developments in and near Allentown's center city, also has commissioned many murals throughout the city.
On Facebook, Castro praised his partnership with Halm, saying he has "an amazing vision and plan."
The project joins more than a dozen large murals in the city, with many installations going up in recent years.
For those looking to contribute to the growing expression of public art, Lehigh Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance is seeking applications for a proposal by a mural artist to design and execute a mural project that "celebrates the convergence of STEM education with the arts" to be installed at the DaVinci Science Center.
The call is open to all artists, but preference will be given to those who live and work in the Lehigh Valley.
Further details on the open call can be found here.
