Watch timelapse as Guelph man carves 'Gourd' Downie tribute pumpkin

Guelph's Jack MacKenziespent a lot of hisHalloween weekend carving aspecial tribute to Tragically Hip lead singerGordDownie a pumpkin featuring a detailed image of the singer thatMacKenzie has dubbed"Gourd" Downie.

MacKenzie'spumpkin face features Downiewearing the now-iconic hat he sported during the band's Man Machine Poem tour this summer. Before the tourin May, Downie announced he had been diagnosed withglioblastoma, an incurable and aggressive type of brain cancer.

Since then, tributes to the singer have been pouring in across the country.

'Guts and splatter'

Mackenzie, 27, says it took him more than five hours spread overthe weekend to createthe tribute pumpkin, including set uptime, three hours of carving and then "cleaning up all the pumpkin guts and splatter."

Mackenzie, aresearcher at the University ofGuelph,told CBCKitchener-Waterlooin anemail,"I took the path of a scientist instead of artist, but enjoy painting and drawing as much as I can in my spare time."

The time-lapse video he shot shows the detailed steps he took to get the pumpkin just right.

MacKenzie says he watched the final stop on the Tragically Hip's tour this summer, broadcast live by the CBC, with friends at his family's cottage in Oro-Medonte.

Downie's well-publicized illnesshas personal resonance too, for MacKenzie.

"My Aunt Norah passed away from glioblastoma earlier this year, so Gord's battle with cancer is especially saddening for me and my family," he said.