A roadside vegetable stand is made ready for winter
For those of us who travel Highway 7 in eastern Ontario, or for that matter many
rural highways, roadside vegetable stands festoon the broad shoulders of the road
with dazzling eye-grabbing colours and a selection of organic goodies. The offerings may be homemade
pies and tarts, garden vegetables and in-season strawberries (July), raspberries and
blueberries in late summer and fall.
In this case, the vegetable stand (about 12 kms west of Sharbot Lake
Ontario) has chosen a gaudy yellow canary colour, following at least one principle of advertisng
"get their attention". Okay you got it . . . can I look away now. With affects of sun, wind,
searing heat and stop motion cold, hard rains and matterhorns of snow, the colour (and the structure) takes a beating. The reds of rust and fall leaves and the peek-a-boo colours of bare wood, blend with the lemomade of
sun-washed paint. In other words, its looks become subdued in short order.
So, every season or two, rotted or vandalized panels are replaced, loose screws tightened, and perhaps a generous
overcoat of paint restores the place to its original vigor, and renew its exhortation "May I have your attention please?"
So, stop in. Prices might be higher than you like, but you meet some of the finest people.
Please do not reproduce the image in this display.
End of Season
Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 20 inches (2012)
Contact Douglas Laing Arts & Letters for further information.
P.O. Box 659, Winchester, Ontario. K0C 2K0 613-774-5180
e-mail
© 2012 Douglas Laing