Miriam Katawazi, Centretown News
Profits from the painting will be going into a trust fund for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo’s son, Marcus.An Ottawa artist’s expressionistic painting honouring the death of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo has touched the hearts of Canadians.
Professional artist Katerina Mertikas’ painting paying tribute to the fallen soldier was unveiled at city hall on Nov. 24 and is continuing to raise thousands of dollars for Cirillo’s five-year-old son, Marcus.
A massive national outpouring of grief ensued on Oct. 22 after Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Cirillo while he was standing guard at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.
Mertikas says she was painting in her home studio in Hunt Club, as she’s done for the past two decades, when she saw on the news that a soldier had been shot in Ottawa, which prompted her to start painting a “sad but memorable image” on a new canvas to honour Cirillo.
“I express myself through art, and this was just a way to let my emotions go,” she says.
An image of the painting named Honouring My Father, which depicts Cirillo standing guard at the National War Memorial and his son in uniform saluting him, went viral when Mertikas’ husband posted it on Facebook to share with friends.
With more than 600 prints sold so far, Mertikas says she’s glad to be raising a lot of money for Cirillo’s son to help support his future. Prints are selling for $124, and have raised $50,000.
“With a lot of help it took on a life of its own,” she says. “We’re working around the clock to make this happen.”
Mayor Jim Watson said in an email that the painting captivated him when he saw it on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen, and had a chance to meet with Mertikas to discuss where to display the original piece.
Mertikas says the atmosphere at the unveiling was “electric.”
“There were so many people there . . . It turned out to be a Canadian thing we can all relate to,” she says. “I’m just honoured to be there, with a painting I did out of emotion.”
The original hangs in the mayor’s boardroom and another version is displayed in Jean Pigott Place on the first floor of city hall.
Watson said in an email that Koyman Galleries, which is selling the prints, is receiving orders from all over Canada.
“I think that’s a reflection of how touched so many people are by this wonderful piece of art,” he says.“I personally have heard from many people who think that this perfectly captures the spirit of a soldier’s duty to his country and a son’s love for his father.”
Mike Robinson, an Ottawa resident, bought three limited editions. He says one of the paintings hangs in his Denny’s restaurant in South Keys, the others he plans to give as Christmas gifts.
“It’s a gift that comes from the heart,” he says. “It a memorable piece that pays tribute to what Cirillo did for our city.”
Mertikas says she’s touched by all the support the painting has received, but she’s heartbroken for Cirillo’s family, and hopes the painting will provide some comfort for Cirillo’s son as he grows up.
“I know nothing will replace his dad and nothing will replace the mother’s loss of her son,” she says. “This is just a really small token from an artist that didn’t even know this was going to happen.”
Mertikas says she met with Cirillo’s mother, Kathy Cirillo, and presented her with the first special limited edition of the painting to give to Cirillo’s son.