Westfield on Weekends Spanish Heritage Month Exhibition Presented in Association with the Westfield Puerto Rican Association Part of WOW’s Journey Stories Project
Gallery Hours:
Group tours available upon request.
To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Westfield on Weekends (WOW) in association with the Westfield Puerto Rican Association will present ¡Viva La Vida! The Art of Rosa Ibarra, a vibrant new exhibition at the WOW Center, 105 Elm Street in Westfield’s Downtown Westfield’s Cultural District.
The Center will host also be special community celebration on Sunday, October 4 from 2–4 PM, immediately following Westfield’s Puerto Rican Flag Raising Ceremony at 1 PM at City Hall on Court Street. The free “Fiesta” will feature refreshments and give attendees an opportunity to enjoy Ibarra’s art.
The WOW Center’s Gallery will be open throughout the exhibition during regular public hours. Visitors may stop in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 to 3 PM, Thursday and Friday evenings from 6 to 8 PM, and Saturdays from 12 to 3 PM. Sunday hours are from 1 to 3 PM during Don Blanton’s Open Studio sessions, with additional times available whenever docents are present and the OPEN sign is displayed. Group tours may also be arranged upon request.
As part of its Journey Stories project, ¡Viva La Vida! The Art of Rosa Ibarra continues the organization’s commitment to highlighting the personal histories, cultural identities, and lived experiences of individuals who call Westfield home.
Born in Madrid, Spain, Rosa Ibarra grew up surrounded by traditions of Spanish culture—elements that continue to shape her work today. She studied painting and art education before immigrating to the United States, where she built a career as both a practicing artist and a dedicated instructor. Rosa has taught art for more than 25 years, inspiring students of all ages through community programs, workshops, and school‑based instruction.
She has received regional arts awards for her community‑based teaching, and her cultural programming celebrating Spanish and Latinx heritage and won awards at juried art exhibitions across New England and the Northeast.
A highlight of the show are original paintings that Ibarra created for the acclaimed bilingual children’s book about Felisa Rincón de Gautier (“Doña Fela”), the beloved former mayor of San Juan. These works capture Doña Fela’s warmth, determination, and iconic presence, offering viewers a rare opportunity to see the artwork beyond the printed page.
The exhibition also includes Rosa’s celebrated collaborative mural created with breast‑cancer survivors, a project that drew regional attention for its emotional impact and community spirit. Developed through workshops in which survivors shared stories of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, the mural brings together dozens of individually painted panels into one unified work of hope and resilience. Rosa, herself a breast‑cancer survivor, created the project as a testament to healing, solidarity, and the strength found in shared creativity.
This exhibition is made possible with grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Westfield Cultural Council. WOW gratefully acknowledges its Major Funders: Westfield Gas & Electric / Whip City Fiber; The Home Depot Foundation; M&T Bank; TruNorth Bank; Westfield Bank; Baystate Health Systems Puffer’s Salon and Day Spa; and Turinian Jewelers.
Westfield on Weekends (WOW) is a volunteer‑driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural and creative vitality of the Greater Westfield community with community events, concerts, lectures, classes and educational programming.
