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VIRL Book Genre Mural
Client:
Vancouver Island Regional Library
Artist Credit:
This artwork was created collaboratively by Humanity Art, an artistic partnership between Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Location:
Diana Krall Plaza, Downtown Nanaimo, BC
Scope:
Site-specific exterior mural
Goal:
Revitalize public space and increase community identity
Year:
2023
Created by Humanity Art: Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.
Project Overview
The Vancouver Island Regional Library commissioned Humanity in Art to design and produce a large-scale mural for Diana Krall Plaza, a downtown Nanaimo space identified as underutilized and in need of revitalization. The client’s objective was to foster a stronger connection between the plaza, the library, and the wider community through accessible, high-impact public art.
Approach
The project began with extensive stakeholder engagement led by the library, which included outreach through social media and internal staff consultation. Humanity in Art translated this input into a cohesive mural concept centred on literature, imagination, and local identity.
The final design, titled Bookshelf Mural, features illustrated book spines, interactive visual motifs, and whimsical details intended to encourage exploration and photo engagement. The centre of the mural includes a tribute to Cedar-born Juno Award–winning composer Christine Jensen, whose jazz composition is integrated into the visual narrative. Additional science-fiction elements and hidden Easter eggs contribute to the mural’s layered storytelling.
Results
The mural transformed Diana Krall Plaza into a more vibrant and welcoming public space, reflecting both the character of the library and the creative spirit of the community. Installed on the exterior walls of VIRL’s downtown branch, the artwork remains open and accessible to the public, continuing to attract visitors to the site.
