Monday, March 19, 2012

Tobacco Mural


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:

Wayne said...

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.

Paul in Powell River said...

It's a nice mural, but the scene looks South American.

Gerald (SK14) said...

A very interesting depiction of history. Hope the mural will survive for a good time.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful green!

Lowell said...

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.

Shaun said...

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

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

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.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

Fascinating. Gorgeous job on the mural. Didn't know you had tobacco farms in Ontario.

Sharon said...

I never thought of tobacco as a crop that would be grown in Canada. Lovely mural!

Regina K said...

I'm with others, never would have guessed tobacco was grown so far north. We have old tobacco farms in the area also.

Jack said...

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?

LĂșcia said...

Great colourful mural, I wish I could paint too... ;-)

Randy said...

Nice one Pat!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Beautiful mural, and it has the potential to become a piece of history as tobacco fades away.

VioletSky said...

Interesting that Wayne mentioned Tillsonburg, that is always the first place i think of when I think of tobacco farms.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

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.

Linda said...

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.

Anonymous said...

Yet another another incredibly realistic mural!

EG CameraGirl said...

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.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

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.

Unknown said...

This is wonderful! Love those big leaves.

Francisca said...

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.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Lovely mural, but I am glad the tobacco farmers are switching crops. Nothing good I can say about tobacco, I'm afraid...

Ritacca said...

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.