Islands of Imagination

Kilia Llano, 2024
359 Plainfield Street, Springfield

"Islands of Imagination," a mural by Dominican artist Kilia Llano, was inspired by the phrase "An island of imagination" from a poem by Springfield's first Poet Laureate, María Luisa Arroyo. The project began when a neighborhood school librarian noticed that many people were unaware of the Brightwood Library due to its location within a large school building. Llano collaborated closely with the librarians, who gathered feedback from library patrons to shape the mural's concept. The artwork highlights key community figures, including Haydee Hodis, the branch librarian since 1979; María Luisa Arroyo; and Airam Moreno, who won the 2024 summer reading challenge.​

Kilia describes the mural “ ‘I grew up in the North End, an island between two bridges,’ says Springfield poet María Luisa Arroyo in one of her poems, a phrase that served as the starting point for the creation of this mural in which I wanted to represent the library as a place full of imaginary worlds, knowledge and entertainment, a place in which all people of any age are welcome and that celebrates the local literary talents such as poet María Luisa Arroyo. The mural depicts young people who enjoy reading and researching in groups, poets, librarians, young readers, and activities for the community where culinary diversity, music and the arts are celebrated, all wrapped in nature and that blue background that recalls the Caribbean Sea.”