A renowned Orillia artist is donating an original painting to the city that has supported him throughout his illustrious career.
Dave Beckett, a member of the Pastel Society of Canada who has been painting landscapes, seascapes and still lifes for several decades, says the donation is a way for him to give back.
“Orillia has been so good to me over the years,” said the popular 80-year-old artist who has worked out of a studio in Marchmont for years. “This is my turning it back to the city and showing my appreciation.”
Beckett had the epiphany to make the donation after finishing a 40” by 60” landscape last year.
The painting features a pastoral field north of Orillia under a vast sky dominated by golden hues from the sun.
“When I looked at it, and thinking how Orillia is known as the Sunshine City, it just seemed like a natural thing to do,” he said of the donation.
So, he made a phone call to the mayor’s office and met with Steve Clarke and Jacqueline Sozcka, the city’s manager of culture.
“(The mayor) was just over the moon” at the idea, said Beckett. “He was really pleased.”
After some deliberation, staff decided the best place to hang the impressive painting is the third floor of the Orillia City Centre, near the counter of the Parks Recreation and Culture Department.
At Monday night’s council committee meeting, Coun. Ralph Cipolla tried to get support to hang the painting on the main floor of the Andrew Street building.
However, staff said due to its size and worries about vandalism and theft, the third floor made more sense.
It was also thought the brick wall of the third floor would be a better backdrop for the painting.
Beckett concedes he did hope the painting would be hung on the main floor, but says he is just happy to see the painting find a home.
“Down the road, I’m not going to be here, so to leave a little bit of my past there as sort of a legacy … it means a lot to me,” said Beckett.
Beckett estimates the painting, not including the research and photography, took about four weeks to complete.
An official ceremony will be held when the painting is unveiled at city hall. A date for that has not yet been determined.