Explores Priorities with Latest Display: LUAG's "What Matters Most" Exhibition

Explores Priorities with Latest Display: LUAG's "What Matters Most" Exhibition

Lehigh University is inviting the community to reflect on what truly matters in life with its new community-curated exhibition, "What Matters Most." This collaborative art project, displayed dynamically across Lehigh's campus and along the South Bethlehem Greenway, aims to engage participants in a shared public artwork that explores themes of connection, values, and community priorities.

The exhibition, curated by the Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG), will open on August 24. People can share their thoughts on the exhibit using the hashtag #WhatMattersMost on social media.

Briana Luppino, a psychologist with Counseling and Psychological Services, believes that the pandemic has helped people realise what is most important to them. This exhibition is an opportunity for the community to express and explore these reflections.

The exhibition features over 5,000 pieces available digitally through LUAG's website. Participants were asked to select an artwork from Lehigh's extensive collection to help them think more deeply about the question as they navigate the pandemic. The artwork is limited to two-dimensional pieces such as photography, prints, and paintings.

Beth Dolan, interim dean of the College of Health and a professor of English, was among those who helped curate the exhibition. She chose a black-and-white photograph called "Woman Posed on Boulder, Mer des Glaces" (1935) by Ilse Bing, for inclusion in the exhibition.

Meghan McCabe '23, a student majoring in accounting and business information systems with a minor in museum studies, was among the students who conducted interviews for the exhibition. LUAG will launch a series of 30 videos featuring Lehigh students interviewing participants about what matters most to them and discussing their chosen artwork.

Bill Way, a postdoctoral fellow with Lehigh's Counseling and Psychological Services, mentioned that the exhibition is an example of how people can express difficult emotions through artistic expression. A notebook is being designed by members of Lehigh's Counseling and Psychological Services, featuring prompts to help people work through the question of what matters most, and will be available at the exhibition.

The exhibition will continue through the 2022-2023 academic year in LUAG's five satellite galleries across campus and along a nearly two-mile stretch of the South Bethlehem Greenway Trail. The exhibition will be incorporated into training for Lehigh Gryphons, who are responsible for promoting an inclusive, supportive, and engaging environment in Lehigh's residence halls.

Issues discussed in the exhibition include inequality in society, bringing people together, identity and gender, the environment, and climate change. Melanie Lino, owner of Made by Lino and Lit Coffee in South Side Bethlehem, chose an abstract print called "Carolina Memory," by Romare Bearden, for the exhibition, and discussed access to food and combating food insecurity as important issues. Erin Zebertavage, Downtown Manager with the SouthSide Arts District, chose a photograph of a beach scene titled, "Ballston Beach" (1984) by Joel Meyerowitz, and talked about the importance of community, family, and friends in combating isolation during the pandemic.

A free, public opening reception on the Greenway will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, featuring commentary from Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble '82 and Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds. The exhibition is part of Lehigh University's broader commitment to community engagement, enhancing cultural vibrancy and fostering connections between students, faculty, and residents through innovative, accessible public art.

1. Lehigh University's new exhibition, "What Matters Most," invites the community to reflect on life's priorities, showcased across the campus and Greenway.
2. The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) curated this community-driven project, open for reflections via the hashtag #WhatMattersMost on social media.
3. Briana Luppino, a psychologist at Lehigh, believes the pandemic highlighted what truly matters, making this exhibition a relevant platform for expressions and explorations.
4. The exhibition features a vast collection of over 5,000 digital artworks, with participants choosing pieces to aid in contemplating the question during the pandemic.
5. Beth Dolan, interim dean of the College of Health and an English professor, chose Ilse Bing’s photograph, "Woman Posed on Boulder, Mer des Glaces" for the exhibition, focusing on connection and community priorities.
6. As part of the exhibition, LUAG will release videos featuring student interviews about the chosen artworks and discussions on what matters most during the pandemic, amid themes like inequality, environment, climate change, and mental health.

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