Description
xFunny How Things Change
Artist: Chris Tutty
Dimensions: 30 x 40 inches
Description
In the deeply moving 30 x 40-inch airbrushed painting titled Funny How Things Change, artist Chris Tutty captures the legendary Gord Downie on February 19, 2015, in Toronto — just months before his brain cancer diagnosis — performing in the full power of his element.
Tutty’s connection to Downie’s music began at the age of 17, when he snuck into a Beef on a Bun cabaret at Frank Sisson’s Silver Dollar Action Centre and witnessed a young Gord dancing and singing wildly with the raw poetic energy of a Canadian Jim Morrison. That same spirit evolved into something even more profound over the years: a refined, fearless artist who faced illness with unmatched grace and left behind a legacy that forever changed Canadian music, culture, and history.
This portrait is more than an image — it is a time capsule, freezing a moment before everything changed. It honors a man who commanded the stage, told our stories, and connected us through music, leaving an imprint on Canada’s cultural identity that continues to resonate today.
One of Gord’s most powerful and lasting contributions was The Secret Path, a collaboration with the brilliant illustrator Jeff Lemire that tells the heartbreaking story of Chanie Wenjack — a young Indigenous boy who died while fleeing a residential school in search of home. This project led to the creation of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Foundation, which works to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. The foundation carries on Gord’s mission through education on Indigenous history, the promotion of safe spaces for dialogue, and by inspiring action with its powerful “Do Something” approach to reconciliation.
Unveiled on October 17th, the anniversary of Gord Downie’s passing, Funny How Things Change is not just a painting — it is a tribute to a storyteller, a bridge-builder, and a voice that helped us understand who we are. Gord’s message and mission live on, urging us to remember, reflect, and rekindle the fire he started.
To support this legacy, visit SecretPath.ca to purchase the album and book, support the Wenjack Foundation, and honor Gord’s vision for truth and healing. You can also celebrate his life and music at GED Fest, a gathering that continues his legacy through art, music, and community.
ORIGINAL WORKS
Each original painting is unique and a one-of-a-kind creation. A great amount of time and detail goes into each piece of art, from hand-painted brush strokes in acrylic and oil medium, to the unique art of airbrushing done with only the best paints, Crea-tex Auto-Air Colors, and House of Kolors Automotive Paint. Aspects of geological layering, almost like sedimentary rock, are imparted with mixed mediums such as metallics, gold and silver flaking, coppers and iron magnesium powders, glass resins, pearls, and industrial candy coats. Some masterpieces also incorporate sculptural elements like molding paste, crackling, and organic material to create depth and a dimensional, embossed image that leaps off the canvas.
ARTIST PROOFS
Artist Proofs are created using the same attention to detail and materials as the original. The process begins with a professional photograph of the original painting by Rob Ryan of Render DC. This image is digitally remastered and color balanced, then printed and stretched on canvas as a guide. From there, it is re-airbrushed to restore the vibrant colors and depth of the original. Elements such as molding paste, pearls, metallic flakes, and neon paints are incorporated before being sealed with glass resins. Each proof is unique, essentially a new painting based on the original, offered at a more accessible price point.
11 x 14 Metal Prints – Limited Edition
Metal prints feature vivid, durable imagery infused directly into sleek aluminum panels with a glossy finish. Rounded edges and a wall-mount fixture make for a clean, modern display perfect for home or office décor.
8 x 10 Dye-Sublimation Prints – Limited Edition
These fine art prints use advanced dye-sublimation technology to infuse the image directly into a coated aluminum surface, ensuring high-definition color and long-lasting durability. Unlike traditional prints, these are scratch-resistant and easy to clean, requiring no frame for display.
8 x 10 Art Resin Block Prints – Limited Numbered Edition
Resin art blocks provide a three-dimensional effect with stunning clarity. Each image is mounted to a pinewood block, coated with Art-Resin for a glass-like finish, and limited to 250 numbered prints worldwide.
Disclaimer
Some Artist Proofs may take up to one month for production and shipping. Colors may vary slightly depending on screen settings and materials used. Each piece is handcrafted, ensuring that every artwork is truly one of a kind.
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