Seven area artists, including the first-ever high school winner, will have their work featured on Adams Outdoor Advertising billboards in 2016

Every commute could use a little creative inspiration! Thanks to the 2^nd annual ArtPop Lehigh Valley program, the region’s roadways will soon be showcasing the dynamic works of seven Lehigh Valley artists on a grand scale—making the morning commute one worth traveling. The winning artists, selected via a juried competition, will have their work displayed on seven Adams Outdoor Advertising billboards from the week of Jan. 4 through the end of December 2016.

This year’s ArtPop billboard competition is highlighted by the first ArtPop Scholastic Competition, which was open to high school students from throughout the Lehigh Valley. The winner of the scholastic competition is Parkland High School senior Jeremy Gipson, for his charcoal work “REACH.” In addition to choosing the scholastic winner, the four-member ArtPop jurying panel selected five artists ages 18 and older to be featured on area billboards in 2016. The seventh ArtPop Lehigh Valley winner, Mindy Hahn, was chosen as the “People’s Choice Winner” through a public vote that ended Dec. 18.

“After the huge success we had with the ArtPop program in its first year, we are excited about 2016 and the great work that has been submitted, especially with the newly added scholastic competition,” says Adams Outdoor Advertising General Manager Tony Cioffi. “Adams is proud to bring the ArtPop program to the Lehigh Valley; we have been overwhelmed by the support and engagement of the area’s residents and community leaders. We thank ArtsQuest and the Banana Factory for being great partners in ArtPop, as well as Formetco of Atlanta for their production sponsorship.”

The complete list of ArtPop Lehigh Valley 2016 winners is:

Edward Vatza, Hellertown, PA
“Michael,” from the Street Stories series (35mm film, scanned)

Gregory Tapler, Bethlehem, PA
Being Human (Photograph)

Kim Hogan, Bethlehem, PA
Cherry Blossom Tree (Mosaic)

Lauren Kuhn, Emmaus, PA
Molly’s Ebb (Acrylic on Canvas)

William Bravo, Sciota, PA
Ideation (Digital Photo Composition)

People’s Choice Winner
Mindy Hahn, Pen Argyl, PA
Peeping Tom (Colored Pencil, Markers and Latex Paint on Paper)

ArtPop Scholastic Winner:
Jeremy Gipson, (from Parkland High School), Orefield, PA
REACH (Charcoal)

“The students’ work was creative and this experience offers an incredible opportunity for young artists because it exposes them to professional artists, as well as the business side of the art world, from the submission and jurying process, to exhibition and publicity,” says Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School Executive Director and ArtPop Juror Diane LaBelle.

Started by Wendy Hickey in Charlotte, N.C., ArtPop is designed to highlight local artists and the important roles they play in the community by showcasing their work through available billboard media space.   The ArtPop Lehigh Valley program, now in its second year, is a partnership between Adams Outdoor Advertising of the Lehigh Valley, the national ArtPop, the nonprofit ArtsQuest and the Lehigh Valley’s arts community. Members of the ArtPop jurying panel were:

-Santa Bannon, Santa Bannon/Fine Art Independent Curator, Fine Art Advisory & Consulting Firm
-Kristen Cook, Graphic Designer, Adams Outdoor Advertising
-Randall Forte, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Arts Council
-Diane LaBelle, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School

“The work submitted by the artists, including some very talented high school students, represented a wide range of artistic styles, themes and mediums,” says ArtsQuest Sr. Director of Visual Arts Stacie Brennan. “We appreciate the support of Adams, ArtPop, our jurors and especially the artists in making this public art project such a huge success.”

For more information on ArtPop Lehigh Valley, please visit www.bananafactory.org/artpop/. For details on the national ArtPop program, check out ArtPopStreetGallery.com.