ELORA – Twenty years ago, a unique and haunting experience began in the heart of Elora that has delighted locals and tourists alike.
Monster Month, which has become an annual celebration of the spooky and the imaginative, owes much of its charm to artist Tim Murton.
With a background in film and theatre production design, Murton’s artistic vision has been instrumental in shaping Monster Month since its inception, which has helped make Centre Wellington a Halloween haven of sorts.
The creations, that are strategically placed throughout Elora, create an otherworldly atmosphere. Visitors can expect to encounter creatures lurking in storefronts, climbing out of windows, and peering around corners.
Growing up in the UK, Murton had a passion for the arts from a young age. Before emigrating to Canada in 1974, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction technology at Portsmouth Polytechnic.
He initially worked as a construction estimator in the mining engineering field. At age 29 he enrolled at the Ontario College of Art.
During his third and final year, he studied in Florence, Italy and then independently in Paris, France.
On his return to Canada, Murton started a career painting sets for television commercials, then landed a position as a scenic artist in Toronto’s booming film industry.
He rose through the ranks and eventually accumulated credits on 40 feature films.
“I was a scenic artist for years and would work very hard, long hours,” said Murton.
“I think the biggest film I worked on I had a crew of 80 and it lasted about six months. It really is grueling. You have to be a particular kind of individual to survive in it.”
Murton managed not only to survive in the industry but thrive, accumulating credits on feature films including Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Johnny Mnemonic, Billy Madison and The Piano to name a few.
Despite the accolades, the demanding work took its toll over the years.
“I kept crashing and burning and would get depressed and all that fun stuff,” Murton said.
“My doctor suggested, instead of being creative for other people, that I should use that energy to do something different.”
In 2004 Murton retired from the film business to pursue his lifelong ambition to be an independent fine artist. He does not have any political or religious affiliations but believes simply that the purpose of life is evolution – making the world a better place for the next generation.
“It’s about having a mixture of older people and younger people connecting and passing down information,” he said.
Monster Month was born from Murton’s desire to share with his community his passion for the macabre and the fantastical.
What started as a small display of homemade monsters on his own property has grown into a month-long celebration that draws visitors from across Ontario and beyond.
“I hung four ghouls around the corner of my house when I first started,” Murton said.
“At that stage in my life, I was stepfather to three girls, and I’d never done Halloween before, so I thought it’d be kind of fun for them, for me to do all this stuff.”
The monsters grew from a passion project to a community-wide event, and in recent years, Murton sold the monsters and has taken a step back to focus on other work.
The monsters generally last about three to four years before having to be resurfaced – a task generally done by a team of volunteers under the supervision of Sensational Elora.
“Basically, they’re made with a wire armature covered with gauze, tissue paper, and glue. They’re made from very simple materials,” said Murton.
Sea Monster at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. Advertiser file photo
Now 71 years old, he tries to keep himself busy with various projects and works of art.
“It came as a big shock when I turned 70. I was like ‘all those old people are the same age as me,’” he said.
“When you’re 40 you can play with people ten years younger and ten years older. If I play with people ten years older – they’re old. And it’s not any prejudice against old people. It’s just that I like to stay sharp. It’s important to always keep your mind young.”
Murton’s dedication to Monster Month Elora goes beyond creating monsters; he is also passionate about preserving the event’s authenticity. He encourages local artists and businesses to get involved to ensure the event remains a grassroots celebration of art and creativity.
When asked what advice he would give to other seniors in order to feel more youthful, Murton said having a passion is crucial.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s train spotting or gardening or whatever. It’s very easy to go down that road to depression. I have suffered from depression my whole life,” he said.
“There are times when you’re riding high and times when you can’t even do your shoelaces up. It’s important to stay active and to exercise. I’ve got an exercise bike that I’ll get on and do 20 minutes of pedaling, and it really does make a difference.”
In addition to this, Murton suggests people should “always stay curious” regardless of what stage of life they’re in.
“I just want everybody to be happy. [Monster Month] is for the kids, and it doesn’t matter how old they are – they could be geriatrics,” he said.
“There’s this sort of childhood mindset inside that everybody responds to, and it’s universal. It’s in bikers and accountants and everybody from all different walks of life.
“The whole idea of the monsters is to encourage people to get creative. Creativity is intelligent play.”
For more information about Monster Month, visit monstermonth.ca.
Paintings in Murton’s home studio. Photo by Chris Zimmerman
