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From Hate to Hope: Butterfly Mural
Client:
BC Human Rights Commissioner's Office
Artist Credit:
This artwork was created collaboratively by Humanity Art, an artistic partnership between Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Location:
Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Nanaimo, BC
Scope:
Youth-led mural and workshop series
Timeline:
Fall-Winter 2023
Year:
2023
Created by Humanity Art: Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Project Overview
In late 2023, Humanity in Art was commissioned by the BC Human Rights Commissioner’s Office to design and facilitate a mural project in Nanaimo as part of the provincial Hate to Hope campaign. The campaign responded to increased hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to foster belonging through public art in four BC communities.
Nanaimo was selected as the Vancouver Island site. Humanity in Art was asked to lead both community engagement workshops and the production of a youth-centered mural. As a queer and trans-led artistic partnership, the opportunity aligned closely with the artists’ lived experience and commitment to inclusive placemaking.
Collaborative Approach
Humanity in Art partnered with RISEBRIDGE, a local IBPOC-led nonprofit, to facilitate collaborative design sessions with youth. These sessions emphasized themes of hope, resilience, identity, and change, allowing young participants to shape the mural’s content and visual direction.
After design development, the team secured support from the City of Nanaimo to install the mural at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, a venue that had faced transphobic incidents earlier in the year. The proposal was formally presented to City Council on November 20, 2023, coinciding with Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Execution
The mural was painted in early December over a short window of time, with artists working around a busy public schedule and limited access. The final piece incorporated visual motifs inspired by workshop conversations, including a rainbow caterpillar emerging as a butterfly, a symbol of personal growth, transition, and collective transformation.
Outcomes
The project culminated in a public launch event featuring youth speakers, city representatives, and remarks from the Human Rights Commissioner. It remains installed on the exterior of the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and continues to serve as a site-specific artwork dedicated to inclusion and community resilience.
The project was fully funded by the BC Human Rights Commissioner’s Office. While the mural is housed at a City of Nanaimo facility, no municipal funding was provided.
