September 30, 2026 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To commemorate this day, we are pleased to share At the Fiddle Camp (2009) by David Garneau.
About the artist
Widely considered a leading figure in contemporary Indigenous art, both in Canada and internationally, David Garneau explores Métis histories, identities and the relationships between Indigenous and Canadian settler cultures.
Born and raised in Edmonton, David received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Calgary before pursuing his career as a visual artist. Currently, he is a Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Regina, where he has taught since 1999.
David is the great-great-grandson of Laurent Garneau, a famous Métis figure who fought in the Red River Rebellion of 1869. The Garneau neighbourhood in Edmonton is named for Laurent.
About the artwork
David Garneau’s Beaded Series, painted between 2007 to 2013, was inspired by Métis beadwork patterns and translates beads into painted dots. He explains that the artworks reflect a Métis cultural perspective while also drawing connections to western artistic traditions, such as pointillism and American pop art.
At the Fiddle Camp (2009) was one of three tipi paintings in this series inspired by cultural events attended by the artist. In an artist statement, David notes that tipis “are symbolic vessels, they are both past and present, First Nations and Métis.”
His focus on the top of the tipi evokes the meeting of earth (material realm) and sky (metaphysical realm) through a human-made structure. The beadwork-like pattern across the artwork asks viewers to see “through Métis eyes,” and David notes the dots “act as a screen suggesting that the gaze is partial and incomplete.”
This artwork invites broader reflection on Indigenous histories and experiences, and the importance of recognizing and valuing Indigenous perspectives.
AFA Office Closure on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
A friendly reminder that both the AFA’s office in Edmonton and the AFA art house in Calgary will be closed on September 30. We will re-open on October 1, 2026.
Credit line:
David Garneau
At the Fiddle Camp, 2009
Beaded Series
acrylic on canvas
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts