the Spitfire Bar & Grille

June & July, 2003

Earlier this year, I was approached about doing some murals in a new restaurant and bar in north Toronto called THE SPITFIRE BAR & GRILLE. The theme (of course!) was to be Spitfires. Right up my alley!

Several partners had purchased a run down bar in an industrial mall. It didn't look like a place for a restaurant...but that was the point.....lots of industry, lots of office workers...and no eating places for miles around. The new owners weren't afraid to take some chances and they went all out on renovations.

After some discussion, it was decided that the main room in the restaurant was to have a panoramic Battle of Britain scene over the cliffs of Dover with two Spitfires in the foreground. Another smaller wall in a conversation nook area also needed a mural. To appeal to female patrons, it  was thought that something a little bit more romantic, while still keeping the theme, was needed. One of the partners saw my print of "Somewhere In England - 1942" and thought it would be perfect. I agreed.

So, for a few weeks I became a commuter to Toronto in order to do the job. The work was pleasant, it was indoors and air conditioned, good people to work for.

The First Look When I first saw it, the place didn't look like much	Interior The inside of the building had been totally gutted...everything was being replaced or re-built	Another view This wall was to be my first mural....involving Spitfires, naturally.	Brick wall One of the few nice original features was retained	Upstairs This wall, up a few steps, beside the main bar, was to get a second mural....a bit more of a romantic view of the War.
Main mural in progress You can see the scaffold I had to use. All the woodwork and windows have been masked off	Another "in progress" shot	Main mural -finished		Hurricanes Another section of the main mural
Smoking Messwerschmitt Another detail on the main wall...a BF-109 trails smoke across the entire mural	Clouds Clouds were added to the ceiling bulkheads	Picture window I think the window in the middle of the restaurant will be great for setting off the murals	The newly built bar	In progress The second mural is well along now.....televisions are being installed
Another work view The mess is inevitable...Oh well...it feels so good when you finally clean it up!	The finished second mural	two more Spits Another part of the second mural...continued around the corner

 

THE LANCE RUSSWURM ART STUDIO

666 Victoria Street North, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, N2H5G1 Telephone (519) 578-7400