Scugog Council for the Arts and the Township of Scugog have worked together with Shoppers Drug Mart in partnership with Plazacorp Ontario 2 Limited Partnership to bring an original work of public art to the new Shoppers Drug Mart in Port Perry. Representatives from all the project partners are expected to be in attendance at the unveiling ceremony being held at 3 pm on Friday, August 13th. “The mural is an excellent example of the arts working with government and business for the enhancement of the community and local heritage recognition” said SCA President Mike Stamper.
The mural, titled “Early Life on Lake Scugog” and painted by area artist and SCA member Tony Johnson, celebrates Scugog’s railway heritage and will be featured on the west exterior wall of the recently opened Shoppers Drug Mart on Scugog St. Tony’s work was selected from a field of applicants from an open call for entry earlier this spring and features many local landmarks such as the old train station along Water St, the mill on Queen St. and the steamship Crandella.
Tony’s experience in mural design and execution is well known in Durham Region. In July 1997, he won a national competition promoted by the City of Oshawa to paint one of the “Downtown Murals”, depicting Lakeside Park at the turn of the century. In 1999 Tony competed and won the honour of painting a second mural in Oshawa depicting the 75th Anniversary of the City, on the corner of Simcoe and John. In 2001 he completed his third mural entitled Camp X on the side of the P.U.C. building on Metcalf Street.
The unveiling of “Early Life on Lake Scugog” is scheduled for 3 pm on Friday, August 13th at Shoppers Drug Mart, Port Perry (1865 Scugog St.). More of Tony’s visual art is also on display through the month of August at the Scugog Arts Resource Centre, 181 Perry St. For more information, please visit www.scugogarts.ca or contact 905 982-2121.