The MEL Mural, A Love Letter to the Library.
The Mural on the patio of the Mérida English Library, by Bruce Hanners.
When local people visit the Mérida English Library for the first time, they fall in love with the building's architecture, the books, and the library vibes, but when they get to the patio, sighs are often heard and a common thought is, “Why haven’t I been here before!”
When people from abroad arrive in Mérida, MEL is a popular destination. We, the MEL team, enjoy watching people find a home away from home in the library, a place where – among other things – they use English as a common language for communicating. We have noticed many visitors share the same feelings when walking to our patio: awe, relief, and calming sensation.
Right before COVID, the patio of MEL had major remodeling. The classroom area was built, a kitchen area was added, and a rooftop terrace installed. But we kept some important existing features, especially the large hand-painted mural that beautifies the area.
We are constantly surprised by the variety of personalities from the community that have been involved with MEL over the years. Such is the case of Bruce Hanners. A sculptor and painter, raised in Ohio, USA, Bruce knew from an early age that art was going to be part of his life. His resume is as long as his career, with impressive pieces found all over the world: Canada, Sweden, France, England, Germany, Japan, Portugal, and México. During his career, Bruce mastered the techniques of scale drawing and modeling, engineering specifications, full-scale modeling, mold-making, jewelry, ceramic, glass, robotics, fine-art furniture, sculpture, painting, and more.
15-foot-tall dancing Irish puppets. Columbus, Ohio, 2017.
Charity Newsies sculpture. Columbus, Ohio, 2018.
HighBall skeleton puppets. 2014.
Bruce has expressed his love for México with every visit, project, and collaboration, learning about and enjoying the diversity in cultures that are found here. Yucatán has a special place in Bruce's heart, and the Mérida English Library, his home away from home, owns a piece of it. It is the great mural on the patio of MEL that proves his passion and skills, and he cherishes this project, which celebrates 28 years of existence in 2024
Recently, we had the opportunity to talk to Paige, his right-hand person, and with Bruce himself about his career, his bonds with the library, and the hidden details of this magnificent mural. Please press “play” on the video below to hear this fascinating story.
As you heard in the interview, you have the opportunity to be part of the mural! You can include your own Book Title with those already there by making a donation of $500 or more to the library. Your book will be added by Bruce Hanners himself. Contact us for more information at info@meridaenglishlibrary.com.
During your next visit to the library, take a moment to appreciate all the details included on the MEL Mural, and also take a look at the other mural Bruce painted in the administrator’s office. And please consider adding your own voice to our history, helping this talented artist make our mural and the library a must-see attraction for visitors.
