Al Laslo of Port Alberni has found a variety of ways to fuel his passion for painting over the past few decades.
Laslo's work can be seen around the city, particularly at Echo '67 Pool.
“The inspiration to paint the Mars waterbomber for the Echo Pool wall comes from my love of airplanes,” says Laslo. He is one of the various local artists who donated their time and skills for the 2015-2016 Pool Mural Project, sponsored by the Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley and the Port Alberni, Parks and Recreation and Heritage Department.
“My other big motivation for painting is fishing boats, one also on display, came from many fishing trips down the Alberni Canal I made with my brother,” he adds.
Laslo was born in a small community more than 100 miles from Regina, Saskatchewan. His father, originally from Hungary, moved his family to Mission, B.C., when Laslo was only five years old.
Al did his formal education in that part of the province up to Grade 11. “At high school I began my interest in painting and designing by working on metalwork patterns. I still have many of my sketches I utilized for my projects,” he says.
He landed his first job in construction during the work that was being done at the pulp mill in Port Alberni in 1956, since his brother was already here.
Soon after this first working experience in town, Laslo joined the Woodward's staff to work in the displaying and advertising of the merchandise for the big retail store. “My job was to print prices on the so called 'show cards' as well as to produce business ads for the newspaper. And, of course, the artwork on windows I did for seasonal celebrations.”
This type of job made him well-known in the community for his skilful painting displays on the many large Woodward's showcase windows: they were particularly dressed up for the major calendar events, such as Christmas, Easter, Canada Day, Halloween, etc. “I guess that many in Port Alberni remember the popular 'Woodward's $1.49 Day', once a month. Well, I did the advertising and pricing displays for that special sale day for many years.”
In addition to his regular work as a window decoration painter and signs, Laslo did other projects in other places in town, including the painting of more than 150 safety silk screen signs for APD Sawmill.
Laslo met his wife Georgina in Port Alberni: she was originally from Manitoba and worked at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, on Third Avenue in Port Alberni “We have been married for 64 years, have two children, Randy and Morrie, and lived in the same house we built decades ago. Also, we are both the same age, that is 87 years old," says Laslo.
For years Laslo has been using his artistic skills on the designing creation trade by making signs, banners, cartoons, caricatures, business cards and murals for different local organizations. His "canvases" have included buildings such as stores and industries, as well as creating hundreds of silk screen printings for two mills and car signs, to professional service workplaces.
Among the several thank you letters he has received throughout the years are congratulatory notes from the Woodward’s managers, and parks and recreation officials. Also, a thank you letter sent by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Port Alberni Twinning Society that reads in part: “ ...in appreciation for putting up the Japanese display during the delegation visit to the city in 1991.”
“I am a self-taught individual. Once I took an art course, but that was it. I have learned this trade mostly by working in the field and I have always liked it.”
Despite his recent health issues, Laslo is optimistic about continuing working on his lifelong trade. Also, he would like to get back to his favourite pastime of his recent years, the practice of floor curling, which he has enjoyed not only as a physical activity, but as a social time he spends with different seniors who also take part in this game.
Orlando Delano writes the Valley Seniors column every month for the Alberni Valley News. Do you have a senior you think should be featured? Contact editor Susie Quinn at editor@albernivalleynews.com.
