Art & History Exhibits
The Westfield Athenaeum is a historical building featuring a great deal of local Westfield art and culture! Learn more about what we have on display around the Athenaeum here.
The Story of Westfield Mural
The Story of Westfield Mural was created by David Fichter in 2010 with funding from the Trustees of Westfield Academy. The mural is 44 feet long and 7 feet wide. It highlights the major industries, people, places, and past times of Westfield. A brochure available at the reference desk describes the stories depicted in the mural.
Art in the Great Hall
On display around the Great Hall are paintings from local artist Ruth Kjaer as part of her series Golden Rain: A Feminist Sensibility in an Eclectic Age. The series references the Greek myths of Danae and the Golden Rain, Andromeda and Perseus, Orpheus and Eurydice, and the River Styx. Kjaer presents these myths from a feminist perspective, reinterpreting and reimagining them as a way of confronting the issues faced by women today. She uses a variety of artistic techniques, including color, texture, and the way she applies paint to the canvas, to create her singular style. Information on names and prices of the works are available at the circulation desk.
Portraits
Historically, portraits of many historical Westfield figures have hung throughout the Athenaeum. Check out this brochure to learn more about their lives. Note: Most portraits are currently in storage to protect them from the ongoing renovations. Check back later to see them hanging in their usual spots!
Room by Room: A History of the Westfield Athenaeum
The Westfield Athenaeum is a unique historical building that includes a remodeled 19th-century homestead. Check out this brochure to learn more about each room of the Athenaeum.
Maps
The Athenaeum has an extensive collection of local maps. Visit us to see reproductions of Westfield historical maps in the reference department, or set up an appointment to view original maps in our archival collection.
There are also a few maps in our online archival collection, with more to come.
Current Exhibits
We offer a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits of art and historical artifacts throughout the library and in our two onsite museums.
See what’s new in the Jasper Rand Art Museum or learn about applying for a show in the Rand.
The renovations of the Reed Room are finally complete! Along with brand new carpets, lighting and general updates, two historical displays have been installed. One display is a permanent installation detailing the history of Westfield from the 18th century to the modern day. The other display case contains a rotating exhibit that will change multiple times a year.