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Pride flag Mural: Save-on-Foods installation
Client:
Save-on-Foods Woodgrove, Nanaimo
Artist Credit:
This artwork was created collaboratively by Humanity Art, an artistic partnership between Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Year:
2020
Location:
Woodgrove Mall, Nanaimo, BC
Scope:
Temporary Pride Flag window mural across storefront facade
Theme:
2SLGBTQIA+ visibility, community celebration, pride month
Created by Humanity Art: Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Project Overview
Amid restrictions on public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Save-On-Foods Woodgrove sought a safe and visible way to honour Pride Month and affirm support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The company commissioned Humanity in Art to create a temporary public artwork, a 60-foot horizontal rainbow flag mural spanning the full length of the store’s glass-fronted vestibule.
The objective was to bring colour, celebration, and visibility to an otherwise quiet season for Pride, contributing to both staff morale and public engagement in a time of distancing and uncertainty.
Creative & Technical Execution
Humanity in Art developed a large-scale horizontal design tailored to the storefront’s architectural layout. Paint selection and application method were designed for clarity, vibrancy, and temporary use. The installation required extended hours on-site and coordination with store operations to ensure visibility and safety.
The completed artwork cast rainbow light into the vestibule’s interior, providing both an external marker of support and an atmospheric experience for those inside the store.
Follow-Up & Extended Impact
Due to the success and public response of the 2020 installation, Save-On-Foods invited Humanity in Art back in 2021 to create a long-term version of the Pride mural on an elevated façade. This second installation required specialized equipment, including a scissor lift and certified Mobile Elevated Work Platform procedures.
Together, these projects reflect a meaningful partnership between public artists and local businesses committed to inclusion. The flag murals remain part of a broader body of work championing 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility and creative placemaking in commercial settings.