Stonechild Autopsy Photo Inspires Artist

Stonechild Autopsy Photo Inspires Artist

Friday, September 11, 2009 at 12:20

A painting in Regina is serving as a memorial to Neil Stonechild.

David Garneau, a visual arts professor at the University of Regina, says his painting entitled ‘Evidence’ is based on an autopsy photo of Stonechild.

Stonechild’s frozen body was found outside of Saskatoon in 1990, and an inquiry in 2003 exposed the involvement of Saskatoon police in his death.

Garneau says his decision to showcase the painting came after some internal debate.

He says it was a struggle to decide between a sense of “taboo” about the image, and the need to keep Stonechild’s story alive.

“In an experience I had in a sweat, I came up with a solution, for myself anyways. I put a grid of dots on it that is like Metis beading, but kind of also like a veil, and it sort of protects the image from coming out or being seen that clearly, but still is able to be seen. But to me it’s some kind of a screen. You shouldn’t be looking at it, in a way, and yet you must,” Garneau says.

The painting is part of the art show ‘Diabolique’, which runs until Oct. 18 at the Regina Public Library’s Central branch.