http://www.thestar.com/entertainment...f-orillia.html
Gordon Lightfoot statue unveiled in singer’s hometown of Orillia
Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot was in Orillia, Ontario for the reveal of his statue, 'Golden Leaves — A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.’
By: The Canadian Press, Published on Fri Oct 23 2015
ORILLIA, ONT.—A sculpture dedicated to Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has been unveiled in his hometown.
The legendary troubadour was in Orillia, Ont., today to see the four-metre-high bronze work called “Golden Leaves — A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.”
The sculpture depicts a bearded Lightfoot in his 20s sitting on the ground and looking down contemplatively as he plays an acoustic guitar.
A wreath of leaves in the shape of a giant maple leaf artistically frames him.
Some of the leaves depict scenes from songs on his 1975 album Gord’s Gold.
Figurative artist Timothy Schmalz of St. Jacobs, Ont., said he designed the sculpture three years ago and got the funding for it — it cost about $500,000 to make — about a year and a half ago.
“When I found out they were working on it, I thought, ‘Why me? What have I done that is so great that I should deserve to have a statue, a very artistic work done?’“ said Lightfoot, 76, in an interview shortly before the unveiling.
Lightfoot, known for songs including If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, has won 17 Juno Awards in his career along with five Grammy nominations.
“Well, I still haven’t won the Grammy Award either,” he quipped with a laugh. “No, I’m just kidding. I don’t care.
“This is super special, to have a monument of this kind. And the location here, the Mariposa Folk Festival location, where I do the odd cameo still and performed here five times over the years. . . It’s very appropriate.”
Schmalz, who has created large public monuments and religious sculptures for sites around the world, said he was thrilled to work on a Lightfoot piece.
“I grew up loving Gordon Lightfoot. This was music that was omnipresent in my studio. I can’t tell you how many sculptures I actually created with Gordon Lightfoot in the background. And now, Gordon Lightfoot’s in the foreground,” Schmalz said.
The sculpture was gifted to the City of Orillia by the Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation.