A new day is dawning at the Orillia City Centre.
Renowed local artist Dave Beckett presented the city with an original pastel painting he has christened, 'A New Day'. The painting is meant to embody the essence and beauty of the Sunshine City.
On Monday night, Beckett was at the City Centre to officially unveil the dramatic painting prior to the start of the regular meeting of council.
When the covering was removed to reveal the massive work of art, there were many audible gasps that preceded a spontaneous and appreciative round of applause from those in the gallery.
"I donated this to the city because they've been so good to me," Beckett said following the unveiling.
"The people in Orillia have just been real champs, great supporters in my book for, I guess, about 40 years."
Beckett, who moved to the region as a child, joked that he worked with crayons as a kid and still does, quipping that he still hasn't grown up.
"But I do want the people of Orillia to be able to see this and enjoy it," he said.
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke said that is exactly what will happen.
"This painting is beautiful," noted the mayor, adding it "will hang proudly in the city for decades and decades to come."
Clarke said the municipality is proud to hang the work at city hall.
"His work is known in the area, it's known provincially and internationally," said Clarke. "Not only is he an acclaimed artist with a great talent, but he is also very giving."
Beckett is a member of the Pastel Society of Canada and has been painting landscapes, seascapes and still lifes for several decades.
The 80-year-old artist said he had the epiphany to make the donation after finishing the 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.
He said he is happy to see the painting find a permanent and prominent 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.
