Participatory Art • by Alexis Moline • 2

Participatory Art in Rural Communities by Alexis Moline             In February and early March 2020, GAGL put out a call for proposals to creatives passionate about water and community activism. Creative Director Christopher McLeod conducted an artist information session hosted at a local cafe, reached out to local press contacts, and was able to secure over 25 proposals from local artists. From here, 5 artists were selected from Haldimand County, Norfolk County and Six Nations, all expecting to carry out their ideas in socially-close, highly attended gatherings throughout the summer, with no fear of transmitting diseases to their especially vulnerable neighbours. Artist Lacie Williams participant workshops, 2019.  In studio participant workshop with artist Suzanne Earls. Simcoe, Ontario, 2019.             When the pandemic hit Canada in mid-March, a pause was taken to reevaluate the artists ideas and futilely attempt to predict the future. GAGL 2020 artist Paul Chartrand, for example, was expecting to gather materials designed by participants at local festivals and fairs to use as a natural water filtration system in his project “Grand Remediator”. Artist Heather Smith was planning on conducting rug hooking circles at thrift stores and community centres to share stories while guiding participants on hooking a visual story of Long Point Bay. These physical resources, due to a worldwide pandemic, went under lockdown and became unavailable.    [  >>>>>   FORWARD ]   + [Distillate © HA&L + Alexis Moline {from the Greek bios} -- the course of a life.]