The Unveiling of Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

The Unveiling of Golden Leaves Sculpture – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

On Friday, October 23, 2015, hundreds of fans from across Ontario gathered at the Barnfield Point in the city of Orillia, to join Canadian legendary singer & songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, for the unveiling of Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot sculpture

Christopher Bratty of The Remington Group

Bratty and Schmalz unveiling the sculpture

fans of Gordon Lightfoot taking photos

Gordon Lightfoot

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot is a 13-foot bronze sculpture created by internationally renowned figurative artist, Timothy Schmalz.

The sculpture depicts a young Lightfoot, who is playing an acoustic guitar with an arch of intricate maple leaves above him.

Schmalz has been listening to Lightfoot’s music since the age of 17 and has spent the past 1.5 Years listening to Lightfoot’s music only while creating this incredible piece of art.

Timothy Schmalz

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

Each maple leaf on the Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot sculpture represents a song from Lightfoot’s album, Gord’s Gold; “I’m Not Saying,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Did She Mention My Name?”…. Together, the pieces represent Canadian identity.

(Maple leaves representing songs “Canadian Railroad Trilogy (top 3),” “Cotton Jenny,” “Don Quixote,” “Old Dan’s Records,” “For Lovin Me,” and more)

Colours of autumn maple leaves on a sunny day created the perfect backdrop for the unveiling of the Golden Leaves sculpture.

(maples leaves representing songs “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Summer Side of Life,” “Bitter Green,” and more)

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, which cost $500,000 to build, was gifted to the city of Orillia by Christopher Bratty of The Remington Group and the Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation.
The Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation supports organizations and charities focusing on the community and the arts & culture.

Bratty, who was also present at the unveiling, is also an ardent admirer of Gordon Lightfoot.

The central piece, Gord’s Gold, and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald sculpture, which were unveiled on Friday, are just the first phase of the Golden Leaves project. More sculptures celebrating Lightfoot’s music will be installed across Canada and the United States.

The unveiling ceremony was followed by a VIP reception where we joined special guests Gordon Lightfoot, Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke, Timothy Schmalz, Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton, Lightfoot’s family and Bratty’s family, to celebrate this new piece of national treasure.

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, is installed at Barnfield Point on the Lightfoot Trail in J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park, Orillia.

Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton

Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Ben Mulroney and Gordon Lightfoot

Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke

Timothy Schmalz

Golden Leaves – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

Christopher Bratty of The Remington Group

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot, Christopher Bratty and family

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

(photos by Terrence)

The Unveiling of Golden Leaves Sculpture – A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot