This is a scene that is disappearing from the Ontario landscape as many tobacco farms have switched to other crops as the demand for tobacco declines. This mural was found on the side of the House Of Horvath Cigar Manufacturers on Ossington Ave. With a family tradition of cigar-making since the 30s, the House Of Horvath was established in 1977 and continues strongly to today.
Taking part in Monday Murals. For more murals click here.
24 comments:
Some years ago I drove through the country around Tillsonburg. With the drying shacks scattered around the fields it was quite picturesque but I'm not sorry the farmers are switching to other crops.
Tillsonburg is the subject of a fun song by Stompin' Tom Connors.
It's a nice mural, but the scene looks South American.
A very interesting depiction of history. Hope the mural will survive for a good time.
Wonderful green!
I didn't realize tobacco was grown in the Toronto area. It's a wonderful mural. I have mixed feelings about tobacco. I love to smoke a pipe and a cigar occasionally. But I don't do it anymore simply because it puts my health at risk. But I miss it a lot.
That is such a beautiful piece of art, its a shame that something like this over in the UK would be ruined by kids who have nothing better to do than destroy nice things.... youth of the nation i guess
I did not know tobacco was grorn so far north. A very nicely done mural that could pass for a scene out of the Salinas Valley here along coastal Central California.
Fascinating. Gorgeous job on the mural. Didn't know you had tobacco farms in Ontario.
I never thought of tobacco as a crop that would be grown in Canada. Lovely mural!
I'm with others, never would have guessed tobacco was grown so far north. We have old tobacco farms in the area also.
Tobacco is still grown in Connecticut for cigar wrappers. I don't know that there has been any reduction in volume, but I don't stay up on facts like that.
It s an appealing mural. It is probably kind of controversial, no?
Great colourful mural, I wish I could paint too... ;-)
Nice one Pat!
Beautiful mural, and it has the potential to become a piece of history as tobacco fades away.
Interesting that Wayne mentioned Tillsonburg, that is always the first place i think of when I think of tobacco farms.
I agree with Spare Parts and Pics, one day this will a reminder of times gone by. I hope they don't paint over it Red.
I didn't know there were tobacco farms in Canada. But then again my only experience of Canada is of the million conifer trees of BC.
Yet another another incredibly realistic mural!
Beautiful colours. Green is always so appealing to me this time of year. :) I've never heard of the House of Horvath, but I don't smoke cigars.
Lovely mural with a distinct visual rhythm. Add me to the long list of folks who didn't know tobacco was grown in Canada. Don't know anything about tobacco as a crop but am glad to learn farmers are finding alternative crops. Thanks, Pat, for participating in this week's Monday Mural.
This is wonderful! Love those big leaves.
I'm not unhappy to see tobacco leaves for smoking in declining demand, but in the Philippines artists use the leaves to make lovely gift products! This is a wonderful green mural.
Lovely mural, but I am glad the tobacco farmers are switching crops. Nothing good I can say about tobacco, I'm afraid...
I can not tell you all how touched I am. I painted this mural during the summers of 2006 and 2007 as a commissioned work for House of Horvath. I haven't painted anything since and just out of curiosity decided to see if it could be searched online. Your kind words mean a great deal to me.
And yes I did use images of Cuban and Dominican fields to create the landscape in the mural.
Thanks again for posting it and for your comments.
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