Heritage

Heritage (or historic) painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than artistic style. Heritage paintings usually depict a moment in a narrative story, rather than a specific and static subject, as in a portrait.

  • The Home Front

    Commissioned by The Department of Canadian Heritage’s World War Commemorations Community Fund. Completed 2016
    Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes engaged Allan Bender for the community-based commemorative and educational murals project entitled “The Home Front”. A series of five murals conceived and designed narrating stories and lives of the Kawartha Lakes community during the years of the 1st and Second world wars. Located include the outside east facing wall of Lindsay’s Boys and Girls club onn their interior gymnasium walls.

  • The Imoogi Dragon of Bloor Street

    Mythological Mural narrative is that in 1919 Bathurst and Bloor was visited by the great Korean Imoogi.
    The Imoogi is a hornless ocean dragon, sometimes equated with a sea serpent. Literally means, “Great Lizard”. The legend of the Imoogi says that the sun god gave the Imoogi their power through a human girl, which would be transformed into the Imoogi on her 17th birthday.

    Designed and painted by: Allan Bender John Nobrega Stacey Kinder

  • The Dragon’s Gate Mural

    According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon.

    Designed and painted by Blinc Studios
    Artists: Allan Bender John Nobrega Stacey Kinder

  • Local 721 Iron Workers Tribute Mural

    The Iron Workers Tribute Mural was created to commemorate and showcase the Local 721 Iron Workers Union. Paying tribute to all the Ironworkers, Apprentices, their trades and their contributions and sacrifices in building Toronto, the GTA and cities across the province.
    To also celebrate I.W.721’s dedication to recruitment and educating future Iron Workers in their largest Canadian accredited training centre.

    Designed and Painted by Blinc Studios
    Artists: Allan Bender, John Nobrega, Sonny Bascalo.

  • A Window Into Yesteryear

    This hand painted mural design was born as homage to Toronto’s historical homes and a celebration of their timeless stained glass windows. As a proud Torontonian, I enjoy walking the quiet residential streets and admiring the older, more charming homes of the different neighbourhoods.
    Artist: Julia Prajza

  • Steam Train Service in Southampton

    This mural was commissioned and installed in 2018, by the Saugeen Rail Trail of Port Elgin and Southampton to commemorate the history of the trains in Southampton. The mural also included a special tribute to the mural artwork by Allen Hilgendorf, who was also a member of Mural Routes and his wife Karen Hilgendorf. They had been recently married before he passed away in 2013.
    Artist: Lambertus De Graaf

  • Notre jeunesse, notre future

    Notre jeunesse, notre future (our youth, our future), Ferme Michel Dignard et Jeannette Mongeon, Embrun, Ontario, Canada. 4,175 square feet.

    Popsilos was a Canada 150 project to celebrate and encourage tourism in rural areas,
    Lacey and Layla Art were granted one of five massive farm silos to paint in the Prescott-Russell farmlands of Ontario. Working within the themes of the Government of Canada’s 150th celebration, we consulted with local Algonquin community members to create an original artwork that would positively reflect important themes symbols to move forward with unity and hope for the future of Canada.

    Artists: Lacey and Layla Art (LALA)

  • The Lottridge Alley mural

    This mural was a 2017 community collaboration between Centre[3] for print and media arts, the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre and me. It was funded by grants from the Social Planning and Research Council, Canada 150 and Hamilton’s Ward 3 Councillor’s office. The young artists whose work is depicted in the mural are Bradlee Henry, Kristen Carter and Kenny Bomberry.

  • Reston MB 150 Mural

    This mural is part of a MB 150 project, created to celebrate the impact that rural communities have made on the province of Manitoba.
    This project was spearheaded by Arts Mosaic Inc., a regional arts organization. Arts Mosaic provides arts programming for communities in the Town of Virden, and the RMs of Pipestone, Sifton and Wallace-Woodworth.
    Whitney Paul-Joseph was the artist chosen to create the mural in the community of Reston. Whitney is an art teacher in Redvers, who lives in Sinclair. She has been an educator for 11 years, and teaches art classes and runs art camps in her spare time. Her preferred subject when painting is nature and natural elements. The mural in Reston is on ‘The Watering Hole’ on the Reston Golf Course. This shack has seen better days, but was the perfect location for this mural to find its home. The mural is a vibrant celebration of the prairie landscape in the RM of
    Pipestone, and perfectly reflects the beauty of the landscape that gives it shelter.

  • Oak Lake MB 150 Mural

    This mural is part of a MB 150 project, created to celebrate the impact that rural communities have made on the province of Manitoba.
    This project was spearheaded by Arts Mosaic Inc., a regional arts organization. Arts Mosaic provides arts programming for communities in the Town of Virden, and the RMs of Pipestone, Sifton and Wallace-Woodworth.
    Erica and Mary Lowe were chosen to create the murals in the communities of Elkhorn, Oak Lake and Virden. This mother-daughter mural team are local, professional artists who excel at painting realism, historical imagery and creatively playing with the beauty of nature.
    The mural has an educational component, and will serve to celebrate and explore the history of the Ox Cart Trail. Resources and images were gathered from the book Ox Cart Trail to Blacktop , and the mural is based on the belief that it is important for people to know as much as  possible of their own history.

  • Elkhorn MB 150 Mural

    This mural is part of a MB 150 project, created to celebrate the impact that rural communities have made on the province of Manitoba.
    This project was spearheaded by Arts Mosaic Inc., a regional arts organization. Arts Mosaic provides arts programming for communities in the Town of Virden, and the RMs of Pipestone, Sifton and Wallace-Woodworth.
    Erica and Mary Lowe were chosen to create the murals in the communities of Elkhorn, Oak Lake and Virden. This mother-daughter mural team are local, professional artists who excel at painting realism, historical imagery and creatively playing with the beauty of nature. The mural is a celebration of Isaac Clarkson. “Ike” to his hundreds of friends, had a boyhood dream of being able to collect and display for future generations some of the machines of his youth; here, the dream came true. A museum was opened in 1967 and he continued to work on the cars until his passing in 1971 at the age of 58.

  • Virden MB 150 Mural

    This mural is part of a MB 150 project, created to celebrate the impact that rural communities have made on the province of Manitoba.
    This project was spearheaded by Arts Mosaic Inc., a regional arts organization. Arts Mosaic provides arts programming for communities in the Town of Virden, and the RMs of Pipestone, Sifton and Wallace-Woodworth.
    Erica and Mary Lowe were chosen to create the murals in the communities of Elkhorn, Oak Lake and Virden. This mother-daughter mural team are local, professional artists who excel at painting realism, historical imagery and creatively playing with the beauty of nature.
    The mural is a reflection of the industry, people and landscape that brought life into this community. The mural brings together the history and vibrancy of the prairies into a collage bursting with color and life.
    Support for this project was provided by the Town of Virden and the Virden and Area Foundation.

    Artists: Erica and Mary Lowe

  • Elephant Parade

    In the early 1900’s it was a large event when the PT Barnum & Bailey’s circus would visit St. Thomas. With every visit came a parade to showcase what audiences could look forward to when attending this amazing circus.

    Artist: Paul Austin

  • Unity

    The Canadian Heritage Public Art
    Plaza Bridge Steps Project
    Ottawa ( Downtown-Wellington & Elgin St., Rideau St. )

    Artist: Yasaman Mehrsa

  • Stained Glass of Toronto

    As a proud Torontonian living in the west end, I enjoy walking the quiet residential streets and admiring the older, more charming homes of Toronto. Being a big fan of fine craftsmanship and vintage design, I like to imagine living in the city during the Victorian times without condo buildings, cookie cutter houses, and uninspired architecture. Over the years I have been collecting photos of these beautiful and intriguing houses in our city and am constantly looking back at them for inspiration with the intricate details, interesting materials and illuminating stained glass windows. This design was born as homage to Toronto’s historical homes and their timeless stained glass windows. The intention is to add a little more charm to the city with this vibrant and captivating modern-meets-traditional design.

    Artist: Julia Prajza

  • Fox on a Box

    Fox on a Box created for Mississauga’s Boxes and Banners project with Bell and Alectra.
    May 2019.
    Fun image of a fox chasing after a dragon fly in front of a depiction of the Britannia Post Office which used to be near this location.

    Artist: Khaula Mazhar

  • Historical Homes of Toronto

    In the hopes of bringing the character and personality of Toronto side streets to the busy main streets, this design was born. The intention is to juxtapose the city’s modern buildings, condo developments etc. with these timeless and unique historical homes, adding a little more charm to the urban sprawl. Inspired by four real houses in Toronto, one from Cabbagetown, Parkdale, Chinatown and Corktown, this mural was part of the 2019 Outside The Box program with Street Art Toronto.

    Artist: Julia Prajza