Gina Mcintee is a visual artist and educator based in Dunnville, Ontario, along the beautiful Grand River in Haldimand County. Through her art, she has created organization logos, awards, community murals, and illustrated books. She is known as a “community animator”, with the unique ability to “capture the spirit of a community, strengthen connections and bridge ideas through my images.” Her message is of unconditional love for yourself and spreading it outward to your community.

For her GAGL 2020 project, she will create a Water Wheel with valuable community contributions made each step of the way. Made of white pine, used for its warmth, beauty and highly regarded by our Indigenous people as the tree of peace, paddles will construct the spokes of the wheel. The blade of each paddle will be divided into 13 segments similar to a turtle’s top shell. Each of these segments represents a full moon, of which there are 13 in a calendar year.

Interested in receiving your own paddle? See the Great Art for Great Lakes ‘TV’ schedule for full workshop details and sign up to participate.

Join Gina as she installs her project at Dunnville Secondary School and answers questions about her experience working with the community with love for the water. We encourage all who participated and followed along with Gina’s art this year to join us on Zoom to celebrate!

Please join us for a morning of painting, free ice cream and giving love to our water at the Grand River Marina & Cafe. This fun filled summer morning by the water will allow participants to continue work painting for Gina Mcintee’s “Water Wheel” project. Gina will be leading stations on art making, with a special guest station from Hobbitstee Wildlife Rescue.

It’s going to be a sunny summer morning, so complimentary Hewitt’s ice cream will be served to all registered participants. Additionally, all registered participants will receive a free t-shirt designed by Gina courtesy of Nova Mutual.

We look forward to a beautiful morning of engagement and connection, and will be following strict safety protocols. Ongoing hand washing and sanitizing will be the order of the day. Let’s all stay healthy and safe.

This event is FREE with registration. Spots are limited and filling up quickly. Please email Alexis at alexis.moline@waterlution.org to reserve your spot solo or preferably as a bubble (group of up to 10 people). Please note that registration is strictly required so we can properly prepare and follow safety guidelines and Covid Screening.

Please join us for our next GAGL TV WORKSHOP for WATER WHEEL  🎉

In this interactive online workshop, Gina will guide participants through the process of painting global water symbols on white pine paddles.

The blades of the paddles will be painted into 13 sections on both sides. The Turtle has 13 sections on top of her back representing 13 full Moons in a calendar of a year. The full Moons have a strong influence on all bodies of water on earth. Once the paddle sections have been outlined, you will add your chosen global water symbol to one of the sections. The paddle is an extension of ourselves and together with the canoe we can go many places. The blade of a paddle is the natural propeller for a canoe. This workshop will share how every water droplet counts in our water cycle.

Are you a resident of Haldimand County or New Credit of the Mississaugas First Nation?

Gina has 14 paddles and painting kits that can be shipped to those that sign up before June 10th. However, if you want to participate by dropping in to enjoy the positive vibes and storytelling with Gina, you are also very welcome!

The 28 paddles were handcrafted by local students in the shop class with Phil Cline at Dunnville Secondary School in February. Gina’s first GAGL TV workshop in May had the paddles in the hands of new participants who sanded and prepared them for painting. This next step of the project reflects the team work that is similar to paddling a canoe – together we get to the destination.

As part of the Great Art for Great Lakes project, the paddles completed by participants will be featured in Gina’s “Water Wheel” installation, to be publicly installed later this year!

GAGL 2020 artist Gina Mcintee has been working closely with the Water Walkers during her “Water Wheel” project. In February 2020, Gina and the Water Walkers presented at Dunnville Secondary School to students. GAGL is pleased to present this special talk with the All Nations Grand River Water Walkers.

“Our teachings tell us that water is sacred, it has life and without water we wouldn’t be here.” ~ Mary Anne Caibaiosai

Waterwalks are Anishnaabe ceremonies that are now performed globally and were inspired by the late Josephine Mandamin, the first Anishinaabe Water walker.  This is your opportunity to meet some of the Water Walkers of All Nations Grand River Water Walk.  The All Nations Grand River Water Walk began in September 2018, led by Mary Anne Caibaiosai who invited all peoples, Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to honour and connect with the spirit of the water.

The All Nations Grand River Water Walk is for everyone.  We hope to start this year’s walk in September 2020 and will start at Lake Erie. We will walk north along the Grand River to its source at Dundalk. This ceremonial walk follows the teachings and protocols of Josephine Mandamin; this year we are honouring the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The walk honours the water and connects all peoples to creation.

Please join us for our next GAGL TV WORKSHOP for WATER WHEEL  🎉

In this online workshop, Gina will guide participants through the process of connecting with the white pine of paddles through sanding. White pine is the foundation for Gina’s project “Water Wheel”, as its warmth and beauty are highly regarded by local Indigenous people as the tree of peace. Please join us for this participatory workshop as we reflect and share stories about the bodies of water we live on: Lake Erie & the Grand River.

Are you a resident of Haldimand County or New Credit of the Mississaugas First Nation?

Gina has 28 paddles for sanding that can be shipped to those that sign up before May 10th. However, if you want to just drop in and enjoy the positive vibes and storytelling with Gina, you are also very welcome!

The 28 paddles were handcrafted by local students in the shop class with Phil Cline at Dunnville Secondary School. The youth did an amazing job shaping the white pine, and now they are ready to be passed along and sanded by new community members. This next step of the project reflects the team work that is similar to paddling a canoe – together we get to the destination.

As part of the Great Art for Great Lakes project, the 28 paddles completed by participants will be featured in Gina’s “Water Wheel” installation, to be publicly installed later this year!