Harold G Shipp's "First High Flier!" Mural - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
N 43° 38.790 W 079° 31.842
17T E 618497 N 4833660
This mural is located on 4994 Dundas Street W. in Toronto, Ontario.
Waymark Code: WM7QHJ
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 11/23/2009
Views: 6
This mural is painted on the west wall of Royal Custum Cleaners at 4994 Dundas. The finished work is a photo-realistic mural 50’ wide and 16' high. The mural depicts the story of a high school student, named named Harrold G. Shipp.
Text from the plaque:
In May of 1944 an eighteen-year-old Etobicoke High School student named Harold G. Shipp convinced a pilot, who ferried Lancaster bombers from Toronto to England during the war, to fly over the school's football field and drop cards which could be redeemed for prizes. The stunt was to raise money for bleachers, but it went awry when a wind came up scattering the cards across the Chinese market gardens near Montgomery's Inn. The scene at right shows a football game in heated progress while the massive Lancaster bomber makes its daring low pass over the field, trailing a stream of promotional cards behind it. The scene at left depicts the unsuspecting farmer looking up in disbelief at the shower of colourful paper descending upon his field. Imagine the impending disaster as 600 excited football fans converge on the field to collect their prize cards, trampling the carefully tended cabbages in the process. Mr. Shipp later became a successful Toronto developer. He still has a flair for promotion.
This is the ninth mural in the Islington Mosaic, a partnership of the Village of Islington BIA and the Heritage Etobocoke Foundation. It was financed by Islington business and property owners and funds donated by local developers.
Corporate sponsers include:
. Benjamin Moore & Company with Village Paint
. Russ Dilworth Limitted - scaffolding
. Shipp Corporation Limited - lighting
Mural Artist: John Kuna
John Kuna has dedicated himself to the art of professional mural painting almost immediately upon graduating from The Ontario College of Art and Design in 1997.
Today, his public and commercial works are featured in over 40 cities across Canada and the United States, including hallmark Canadian locations such as The Montreal Forum and The Skydome in Toronto. Recently, his art work also appeared on the popular "Greatest Canadian" program aired on CBC.
Apart from his achievements in this field, John also continues to develop his personal body of work, specializing in fine painting and portraiture. He has earned commissions from clients in The United Kingdom, Egypt, and The Czech Republic as well as throughout North America.
John was born in the Czech Republic, arriving to Canada when only ten years of age. Now based in Toronto, he continues to refine his style and technique drawing upon his travels and this city's vibrant cultural heritage for inspiration. Since murals are so accessible and can achieve so much to transform a public space, it is his sincere hope that his art continues to be of the best possible service to the viewing public and community.
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