By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
With the warmer months upon us, Wellesley Free Library celebrated the summer by opening their brand-new outdoor space, the Terrace. The day celebrated local artists, the beautiful world around us, and creating a great space for reading, studying, and gathering.
“Covid taught us how important outdoor space is in day to say life.” Jamie Jurgensen, director at WFL, spoke during her opening address. When the only places we could meet were outside, it became imperative that it created spaces to foster connections while enjoying the natural world. The Terrace also shows how private donations can change and impact spaces like a library. Keith Higgins, president of the WFL Foundation, spoke on this and how they were happy to contribute to a project like this.
On top of making this outdoor space for people to use, it also serves as a space to feature work from a local artist that hold greater meaning. Nancy Schön, a sculptor most well known for her Make Way For Ducklings piece in Boston Public Gardens, was asked to create a piece for the Terrace and created a beautiful sculpture of a monarch butterfly.
“Do you have a powerful childhood memory?” She asked. Schön spoke about her inspiration for the piece, how her father was a florist and as a child she grew up surrounded by beauty. She would walk the gardens and see the monarch butterflies flock to the butterfly bushes. She loved them so much she planted some in her own garden. But beyond being beautiful creatures, butterflies are symbols of transformation, hope, and rebirth. Her powerful childhood memory has morphed into her creativity, and it speaks to what happens to children when they enter this space and the library. It shapes the people we become.
The butterfly theme continues inside, with a kaleidoscope of butterflies made of origami hanging from the ceiling in a beautiful storm. Richard Alexander and Michael LaFosse co-founded the Origamido Studio in Haverhill where they teach and design origami folds in person, online, and through books that tell a story of the creature while teaching you how to fold it. They made over a hundred origami butterflies and hung some off a butterfly DNA strand showing different shapes and colors of the wings. It brings the outdoors in and feels right out of a picture book that you can pick up off the shelves.
And with giant scissors, Schön cut the ribbon and the Terrace was officially open. The outdoor space has tables and chairs set up for people to enjoy reading their books or talking to friends while overlooking Simons Park. With the statue looking as though it is flying from the park to the library and a bright and welcoming space, the Terrace gives people a new space to enjoy and exist at Wellesley Public Library. Be sure to go explore the space and enjoy the outdoors.
