Painted memory

City Hall received an artistic reminder of the Olympic torch celebration held in the city earlier this month.

RBC regional vice president Murray Walberg handed over a painting, created on stage at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium during the Jan. 3 event by Canadian artist Jessica Gorlicky, to Mayor Lynn Peterson Monday morning.

"The city did such a great job putting on this event and we though there’s no better place for us to donate it to," said Walberg. "That way the people of Thunder Bay can see it hanging here and remember the great torch relay we had in Thunder Bay."

Gorlicky made the painting in a different fashion than most painters – she paints as the canvas spins. The piece depicts a woman holding the Olympic torch in the Olympic outfit worn by torchbearers in the relay.

Walberg said she was chosen for her creativity and energy as well as her art.

"She’s been travelling along with RBC and the torch doing paintings right across the country," he said.

It’s still unknown where in City Hall the painting will call home, but Peterson said she’d like to see it somewhere where the torch is available for people to come, look and get their picture taken.

"We’re very grateful, " said Peterson. "It was wonderful when the torch came through and we had the opportunity to celebrate as a community."