Gallery: “Resurrection” Painting Moved Back To Queen Of Peace

Workers with Hill’s Van Service move the 16-foot 6-inch by 9 foot replica of the painting “Resurrection,” an oil on canvas by local artist Margaret “Peggy” Watts, into the Queen of Peace Catholic Church on State Road 200 in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, May 28, 2021. The original “Resurrection,” that Watts painted 20 years ago was destroyed by arsonist Steven Shields, 24, of Dunnellon on July 11, 2020 when he drove his minivan through the front door, dumped 10 gallons of gasoline and lit it on fire with the intent of destroying the church. All the other painting in the church were also destroyed. After the original artwork was destroyed, the decision was made to recreate the pieces (including the large piece) using photos of the original works that Peggy had for insurance purposes. Art restorers worked from the photos to recreate the paintings, with the exception of the central/large piece (16×9) – which Watts and her artist friend Rich Woy collaborated on. She did the lower half and he did the upper half (as she could not go up on the scaffolding). Pete Adolf of Adolf Construction donated the use of one of his warehouses for Peggy and Rich to work in to complete the painting. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

The 16-foot 6-inch by 9 foot replica of the painting “Resurrection,” an oil on canvas by local artist Margaret “Peggy” Watts, was installed at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church on State Road 200 in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, May 28, 2021. The original “Resurrection,” that Watts painted 20 years ago was destroyed by arsonist Steven Shields, 24, of Dunnellon on July 11, 2020 when he drove his minivan through the front door, dumped 10 gallons of gasoline and lit it on fire with the intent of destroying the church.