There has been a major celebrity sighting in Minden village – and it’s one that will rock you.
The likeness of iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury rests proudly on the Minden River Cone. Mercury is captured in his signature pose, with his right arm pointing straight up. Only, rather than holding a microphone, the mural shows Mercury with an ice cream cone in hand.
The work was completed by Teddy Griffith, an aspiring artist who graduated from Haliburton Highlands Secondary School before moving to Montreal. He got the job after his mother, Renee Griffith and her company As Good As New Painting, was hired to refinish the exterior of the River Cone last fall.
“It was all very serendipitous,” said Monica Bolton-Scott, who owns River Cone with her partner Ben Bolton-Scott. “We’d always had a long-term goal to have a mural installed on the building. During one of our consults, I told Renee, she called Teddy and we started collaborating over speakerphone.”
A few hours later, Bolton-Scott had three drafts to choose from – the Mercury piece, and two others that predominantly featured the Gull River, which runs through downtown Minden.
Teddy spent a week last October installing his design. Alongside Mercury are several abstract trees to represent the natural landscape of Haliburton County, with a thin stream of blue embodying the Gull.
The piece was covered up over the winter, with people getting a first glimpse when the River Cone reopened for its 30th season May 2. Bolton-Scott said the public response thus far has been similar to her own.
“It’s blown everyone away – Teddy’s technique and work methods, while interesting to watch, has also created a stunning piece of art,” she said. “Some don’t know who it is and have to ask, but most can tell right away it’s Freddie.”
Teddy said he used premium outdoor paint to make the massive mural pop – his creamcoloured body jumping out against the bluegreen backdrop. Previously considering himself a hobbyist, with no formal training or experience working in the arts, Teddy said he’s now contemplating a career change.
“This is a first-time thing having my art displayed publicly – it’s made me think that maybe I can do something with this,” he said. “I’m super stoked to have this mural in my home community that I can keep coming back to.”
With one bucket list item down, BoltonScott said she’s turning her attentions to another.
“There’s a dead-end road down here that, someday, I’d like to see turned into a splash pad, or a public space that promotes events in the downtown,” she said, noting she plans to approach Minden Hills over a possible collaboration.
It’s been a busy off-season for the owners, who installed a wooden deck at the rear of the property, added some new picnic tables and a basketball court – donated by Canadian Tire and Home Hardware in Minden – and are installing a dock by the water.
The dock will be named ‘Michael’s Landing’, in honour of Monica’s brother who passed away in 2021, shortly after they took over the Cone.
“He was a big kayaker, so he really wanted to build a dock here – it’s his birthday May 19, so we’re building this platform in his honour. It’s a little something for the community, giving them another spot to safely get in and out of the water,” Monica said, adding the Cone will host a 30th anniversary celebration in the summer.
