A three-piece mural about Chesterton created by children’s author and artist Jeff Hagen is now on display at the Westchester Township History Museum.

Last year, Hagen, a New York Times best-selling children’s author, visited Chesterton to teach and inspire Chesterton Middle School art students. CMS teacher Jody Nix was awarded a grant from the Duneland Education Foundation to fund the two-day program.

During his visit, Hagen taught the seventh and eighth graders about watercolor techniques and the book-writing process. Upon the completion of his visit, Hagen promised to create and present to the community a mural of Chesterton.

The mural, “The Magic of Chesterton,” highlights the area’s past and present features and celebrates the community’s interaction with the natural and commercial landscape.

In addition to Hagen’s mural, the students’ works that were created and inspired during Hagen’s visit are on display at the museum. The students’ watercolor paintings illustrate Hagen’s story “When Fear Looks in Your Window,” which is available to read in the exhibit. Books written, illustrated, and bound by the students are also on display.

Westchester Township History Museum is an educational and cultural service of Westchester Public Library. The museum, housed in the historic Brown Mansion, 700 W. Porter Ave., is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday or by appointment, 983-9715.

Posted 6/17/2010