Cincinnati Toy Heritage Mural – Cincinnati, Ohio
As I stood looking at the Cincinnati Toy Heritage mural, a sing-songy flow of words stumbled drunkenly out through the creaking saloon doors of my memory dedicated to the 1980’s.
“I’m the Peculiar Purple Pieman from Porcupine Peak.”
Uh, what?
“Peculiar Purple Pieman.”
Yes, I heard you. I don’t know what that is.
“Of Porcupine Peak.”
OMG. Seriously?
“Peculiar Purple Pieman.”
You’re an asshole.
Sometimes those dusty remembrances can be rather nagging, particularly when they’re about about important things. You know, like the Strawberry Shortcake? The character, not the dessert.
It’s been 40 years since I’ve contemplated the Peculiar Purple Pieman, if I ever in fact contemplated him at all. But, there he was front and center, feeding a dinosaur a pie and rat-a-tat-a-tating his way through my childhood memories. My sudden awareness of him hit me in the face like a cartoon frying pan, surprising even me.
My childhood best friend had a Strawberry Shortcake character doll and I can remember huffing the delicious plasticky fruit scent with all of the imagination and wonder of an 8 year old. Scrumptious.
Aside from simply being a beautifully painted tribute to toy manufacturer Kenner, this work is a walk down memory lane. Kenner and it’s toy commercials punctuated so much of my childhood. The brand was so intertwined with pop culture happenings throughout the 80’s that even saying its name brings a wave of nostalgia.
If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area, this particular artwork is not to be missed.
ArtWorks Cincinnati mural list
Visit the Cincinnati Toy Heritage Mural
23 W Court St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Your 100 miles south of me, I will definitely put this on the list for our winter trip. I also want to see the troll museum in Alliance Oh, might be on your home .
there are so many nice murals around the city! hope you have fun 🙂
Nice to see you back out on the road.
Thanks, Ted – It’s been nice to get out and bum around the world a bit.
While I don’t remember this character, I’m shocked and saddened that making delicious pies could be vilified in this manner. What are we teaching our children? To eat CAKE!?