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‘Hope in Flight’ mosaic masterpiece celebrated

Published November 28. 2023 10:59AM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

Bethlehem Area School District art educators Tiffany Anderson and Carla Majczan were recognized during their community art project’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Located along the Bethlehem Greenway, at the intersection of Hobart and Railroad streets, the “Hope in Flight” mural features 21 panels of colorful mosaic installed on the concrete stair risers. Images of birds in flight and flowers are tied together by a rainbow and an ascending row of ebony and ivory piano keys.

“We both put in different elements,” says Anderson about the project. “We came up with two ideas and we put out a survey.” They received more than 200 responses from students and community members and incorporated those ideas in the final design. Anderson teaches at Donegan Elementary.

“She [Majczan] definitely was the piano and rainbow,” says Anderson. “I was more the birds and flowers.”

“I asked Tiffany if she wanted to do this with me,” says East Hills Middle School art teacher Majczan. “I feel that we are both the same type of artist where we would want to involve the community and our students in things.”

“My students seem to get excited about anything I get excited about,” remarks Majczan.

Several of the duo’s art students worked with them on the mosaic, with the elementary school pupils sorting colors and the middle schoolers breaking the glass into various shapes and placing the tiles. Fellow teachers and other adult volunteers also helped install the mosaic.

H. Winter Tile in Allentown and Spectrum of Floors in Easton donated glass tiles.

County Executive Lamont McClure, Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds and SouthSide Arts District Downtown Manager Erin Zebertavage assisted the two art teachers with the stairway mural’s ribbon- cutting.

Those gathered at the event were serenaded by the East Hills Middle School Band, directed by Christy Davies, and East Hills MS Chorus, led by Kim Remaldy, as well as James P. Jordan from Touchstone Theatre.

Singer-songwriter Melody Cruz sang covers while families enjoyed food and crafts during the reception at the Bethlehem Skateplaza.

Funding was provided by Southside Arts District, a program of Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation, and Southside Tomorrow, a program of Community Action Development Corporation and Northampton County.

Press photos by Ed Courrier From left, Bethlehem Area School District art educators Tiffany Anderson and Carla Majczan with their mosaic masterpiece “Hope in Flight.” Anderson teaches at Donegan Elementary School and Majczan teaches at East Hills Middle School.
Tiffany Anderson, at top, gathers with her Donegan ES students, their parents and other volunteers on the stairs that connect Railroad Street with the Bethlehem Greenway.
At left, front, Carla Majczan and the East Hills Middle School Band enjoy a photo op.
Led by director Kim Remaldy, the East Hills MS Chorus sings “Amazing Grace.”
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and Community Action Lehigh Valley Director Anna Smith, art teachers Tiffany Anderson and Carla Majczan, SouthSide Arts District Downtown Manager Erin Zebertavage, and Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds participate in the stairway mural's ribbon cutting.
East Hills MS art educator Carla Majczan is flanked by her student volunteers. The young artists, from left, are Ivy Johns (13), Aubrey Simmavath (14), Natalie Alves (14) and Joshua Hesener (13).
James P. Jordan from Touchstone Theatre performs at the ribbon cutting.
Singer-songwriter Melody Cruz sings a cover of “Fly Me to the Moon” during the reception following the mosaic's dedication. Cruz is a 2017 Catasauqua High School graduate.