Regina artist to depict Louis Riel in live art performance

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 saidhis character will go through anarrative progression throughout his performance.At 4 p.m. (CST) the University of Regina art professor will be part of a talk at theDunlopArt Gallery.

John A. MacDonald charged Louis Riel with high treason for leading the Northwest Rebellion. Riel's trial was moved from Winnipeg toRegina. He was found guilty and hanged on November 16, 1885 in Regina.