The Lehigh Valley's vibrant arts community continues to flourish, with a fresh batch of exhibit openings planned for this weekend. Here is a look at what is opening and what is still on display, plus other art-related events worth checking out:
Opening Friday, Sept. 18
"PechaKucha Night - Vol. 2," 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, Nurture Nature Center, 518 Northampton St., Easton | The event will feature eight presentations, in which presenters share 20 images in 20 seconds, plus craft beer from Easton's Two Rivers Brewing Company. Presentations start 7 p.m. There will be a suggested $2 donation at the door.
Opening Saturday, Sept. 19
"A Grand Adventure - Fall 2015 Collection," Mercantile Home, 140 Northampton St., Easton | Merc Haus' latest exhibition is bound to put you in a festive fall mood, featuring curated items from "near and far." Owners Ron Morris and Ken Jones Jr. always have something special up their sleeve when it comes to introducing new works, so be sure to stop by Downtown Easton this weekend. The opening reception is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The exhibition also marks Mercantile Home's seventh anniversary.
"Local Color: The Art of Will Harmuth," Connexions Gallery, 213 Northampton St., Easton | When you are finished at Mercantile Home, head across Northampton Street and pour over paintings created by artist Will Harmuth. Naturally, an art reception at Connexions would not be complete without live music accompaniment. The musical guest will be Whitehall-based experimental indie rock duo Echophobia. While you are there, be sure to say hi to Fredo the cat.
Riverside Festival of the Arts, Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, Riverside and Scott parks, Easton | The 19th annual outdoor Riverside Festival of the Arts will be home to 70 juried artists, children's art projects, a plein air art contest, poetry readings and live music. This year's music selection includes Chris Cummings, Alex Radus, Serene Green, Heidi Ott featuring Andy Killcoyne, Dan DeChellis, Cheek2Cheek and the School of Rock, among others. Plus, there will be a special sneak preview of the Rivers Merge choreographed dance, scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Scott Park.
On display
"Perspectives: Art on the Environment," Nurture Nature Center | Viewing hours are: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Information: nurturenaturecenter.org
"Woven Welcome"; "Above Zero: Photographs from the Polar Region by Sam Krisch"; "A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America"; "Jeffrey Becom: Colors of India," Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley, 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown | "Woven Welcome" -- a community-based art project which "utilizes the woven rug as a statement of the ways in which individuals are interconnected," according to the museum's website, runs through Oct. 11 in Trexler Hall. "Above Zero" and "A Shared Legacy" are also on display through Oct. 11 in the Scheller and Rodale, Scheller and Fowler galleries, respectively. "Colors of India" runs through Dec. 6 in the Payne Hurd Gallery. Information: allentownartmuseum.org
"Retrospective," Brick and Mortar Gallery, 8 Centre Square, Easton | The exhibition focuses on paintings by the late Joe Wall and is curated by Ken Kewley.
"Steampunk," Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New St., Bethlehem | Travel to days of future past and feast your eyes on contemporary art of the Steampunk movement. Information: historicbethlehem.org
"Unicorn Worship," by Ed Kidera, on display at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Art in Bethlehem.