Regina artist to depict Louis Riel in live art performance
CBC News | Posted: November 16, 2014 11:30 AM | Last Updated: November 16, 2014
As Riel, David Garneau will interact with statue of John A. MacDonald
Today, artist David Garneau will be in Regina's Victoria Park, dressed as Louis Riel. He'll interact with the statue of John A. MacDonald. It's all in honour of the 129th anniversary of Louis Riel's death.
"I'll be dressed in an outfit resembling a Louis Riel sculpture. It's in felt," Garneau told CBC's The Afternoon Edition host Craig Lederhouse. "I'll be accosting the John A. MacDonald sculpture. They never met in person but I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall if they had."
But if you're in the park at 3 p.m., don't expect to hear much of anything. Garneau will set up a tin can telephone to speak with Canada's first prime minister.
"I'm not going to talk. I'm going to be pantomiming nearly everything," Garneau said.
Garneau said his character will go through a narrative progression throughout his performance. At 4 p.m. (CST) the University of Regina art professor will be part of a talk at the Dunlop Art Gallery.
John A. MacDonald charged Louis Riel with high treason for leading the Northwest Rebellion. Riel's trial was moved from Winnipeg to Regina. He was found guilty and hanged on November 16, 1885 in Regina.