Lehigh Art Alliance (LAA) has a new pop-up gallery at Promenade Saucon Valley.

The approximately 5,476-square-foot space features the work of 22 of LAA member artists in a variety of media, including paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, fashion pieces, jewelry and multimedia.

“Each artist has about 90 inches of wall space,” says LAA President Elena “El” Shackleton. “They’re responsible for their own space, kind of like a salon gallery.”

“We basically had to put this up in three weeks,” says Shackleton. “Everybody came together and did their jobs very well.”

Bethlehem-based multidisciplinary artist Nancy Bossert skillfully organized her allotted 90 inches of wall space with paintings, printed note cards and other works.

LAA Vice President Laura P. Lavit brought three-dimensional works to the gallery, including “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust” a.k.a. “Janet’s Bees.” (2020; stoneware clay and wood), a tribute to Lavit’s artist friend, Janet Bishop, who died in 2019 at age 91.

As a narrative artist, Lavit has a story for every piece she creates.

“About a month before she passed away, I said, ‘Janet, where are you going?,’” says Lavit. “I was teasing her.” Her friend replied, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” adding, “Let the bees find sanctuary in my body.” Bee figurines “swarming” the piece are created from a mold that Bishop gave to Lavit.

Alerted by a mutual friend, Shackleton contacted the manager of the Promenade and learned the lifestyle center was seeking artists to utilize a vacant retail space across the street from L.L. Bean.

The gallery has regular hours Friday through Sunday. In addition, member artists can work on their projects and gallery-sit when an “Artist in Residence” sign is posted at the entrance.

“We’re looking to do portrait model sessions, which are clothed model sessions,” says Shackleton. The LAA also plans art workshops and activities for children and the community in the pop-up gallery.

“If we’re still here in January,” says Shackleton hopefully, “we may do a winter show here which would be a membership show like the ones we would do at the Crayola Gallery.” Banana Factory galleries are no longer available for the annual event.

If LAA is in the pop-up Promenade Saucon Valley gallery space in February 2025, the art organization would like to expand their “Got Art!” fundraiser.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we will still be here in February,” says Shackleton. “And that’s our plan.”

She acknowledges, “Plan B, ‘Got Art!’ may be in a tent and may be in the spring.”

“We fill the space; we keep it open for them. We do them a service,” says Shackleton. “They’re doing the community a service by having a gallery.”

An opening reception for the gallery exhibition, which continues through Aug. 31, was held June 14 with music by Shaun Lally.

The Lehigh Art Alliance, founded in 1935 by Professor Garth Howland of Lehigh University, is an organization for amateur and professional artists in the Lehigh Valley.

“Lehigh Art Alliance at the Promenade,” Promenade Saucon Valley, 2845 Center Valley Parkway, Unit 819, Center Valley. Gallery hours: 4 - 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday; noon - 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday - Thursday. www.lehighartalliance.org

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com