Dawn to Dusk

Created by Humanity Art: Lys Glassford and Lauren Semple.

Project Overview
In 2021, Literacy Central Vancouver Island commissioned Humanity in Art to design a site-specific mural to celebrate its 30th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign. The client’s vision was to envelop the second-floor balcony of their downtown bookstore with a celestial narrative, depicting the sky’s gradual transformation from bright daylight to starlit night.
The mural would function as both artwork and architectural statement, visually aligning with the organization’s motto: Literacy is our Legacy. The concept aimed to reflect not just the passage of time, but the lifelong journey of learning and discovery that literacy unlocks.

Design Strategy
Humanity in Art translated the theme into a continuous horizon, blending sky tones from warm sunrise palettes to deep night hues. The mural’s progression invites viewers to interpret literacy as a daily rhythm, full of imagination, transition, and reflection.
A key feature of the design was its donor integration. The mural provided dedicated display space for custom-painted book spines, each representing a campaign donor. These elements were incorporated in a visually cohesive manner, blending seamlessly into the mural’s composition while serving a functional fundraising role.

Challenges
The architectural layout required precise planning. The mural needed to wrap across multiple surfaces with visual continuity and remain legible from street level and entrance walkways. Timing was also critical, as the piece was scheduled to coincide with the kickoff of the anniversary campaign.

Outcomes
The completed From Dawn to Dusk mural became a permanent tribute to Literacy Central Vancouver Island’s role in advancing community learning. It remains a visual landmark for passersby and bookstore visitors and continues to support donor visibility in a creative, mission-aligned format.