Boys dancing at Nyarna, Lake Stretch
It is my pleasure to invite you to join me in celebrating this landmark exhibition of Western Australian Aboriginal artwork: Through Our Eyes – The Canning Stock Route.
Through Our Eyes The
Canning Stock Route
5 September – 18 October 2008
“…That road been put by that Canning mob lately…
artists Eubena Nampitjin • Elizabeth Nyumi • Jane Gimme Frances Nowee • Sheila Friday Jones • Clifford Brooks Jeffrey James • Dada Sampson • Jakayu Biljabu • Lily Long Hayley Atkins • Dulcie Gibbs • May Brooks • Miriam Atkins Rennette Biljabu • Nora Nungabar • Mabel Warkarta Mayapu Elsie Thomas • Rosie Goodjie • Tom Lawford Nada Rawlins • Peter Yanjimi Rowlands Penny K-Lyons • Josephine Nangala Miriam Olodoodi • Charlie Wallabi • Veronica Lulu Donald Moko • Nola Campbell
only yesterday.
Before this, blackfella country, soak-water, jila, jumu, rock-hole. Now it’s Stock Route for anybody to use. Before it was…Dreamtime ancestors.” Tommy May, Wangkajunga, Cultural Advisor and Artist, Mangkaja Arts
most beautiful places. The best way to capture this beauty, and convey its sense of place, is through the presentation of local creatives, who possess knowledge, spirit and vision that is uniquely their own. As a response to this distinctive perspective, the CSR Project has established two employment and training programs to build the Project’s content. The Emerging Aboriginal Curator and Multimedia Trainee Programs and the Cultural Heritage Preservation Program are forging new pathways for intercultural and economic exchange, with talented individuals working with their communities and local enterprises. The multimedia and curator programs offer ‘on the job’ professional development and mentoring, generating ongoing benefits and livelihood opportunities that will outlast the Project. Emerging Aboriginal curators Hayley Atkins, Louise Mengil and Terry Murray, with the guidance of Senior Curator Wally Caruana, have selected works produced on the journey from Wiluna to Halls Creek, associated bush-trips and art centre workshops. The resulting exhibition and companion publication will be launched at the National Museum of Australia
With the critical assistance of Aboriginal people, the Canning Stock Route was originally opened by Alfred Canning between 1906 and 1910, to bring cattle from the Kimberley region in the north of Western Australia, 1,800 kilometres south through remote deserts to Wiluna. This exciting project brings the long neglected perspective of Aboriginal people from this country, about this country, into focus. Beautiful in their own right, these paintings open all eyes to a glimpse of the artists’ complex knowledge of and relationship to the Canning Stock Route country: an inheritance that has developed over thousands of years. The paintings visually capture knowledge of geography, law, mythology and spirituality, and speak to us about the importance of place. They teach us to look again and to see this country with new eyes.
multimedia artists Kenneth KJ Martin • Morika Biljabu • Clint Dixon
(NMA) in 2010, followed by a national tour. Many of the artists participating in the Through Our Eyes exhibition will also be participating in these activities. In addition, a boutique selection of paintings recently featured as the only Australian cultural product at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Expo, supported by BHP Billiton Iron Ore and hosted by the International Olympic Committee.
These partners also recognise the need to listen, celebrate and understand the wealth of environmental, economic, social, and cultural knowledge that belongs to Australia’s first peoples. The mutuality of the partnerships supporting Through Our Eyes and the CSR Project is reframing the possibilities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia.
The most magical aspect of the CSR Project and Through Our Eyes exhibition is the shared intentions, energy and contribution of a most remarkable team. An empowered network of outstanding leaders and professionals has developed, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal arts and cultural workers, curators, cultural advisors, language workers, anthropologists, film makers and photographers, fundraisers, administrators and support crew. The CSR Project harnesses their commitment to manifest the goal of sharing Aboriginal culture with global audiences.
Through Our Eyes has been realised through the generous support of the Department of Local Government and Regional Development (via WARIS). BHP Billiton Iron Ore, the Indigenous Land Corporation and Lotterywest are the CSR Project’s founding and principal partners, signifying a strong investment in the communities across the regions. Additional partners are Visions of Australia, BHP Billiton Nickelwest, the Department of Industry and Resources, the National Museum of Australia, the Department of Culture and the Arts, the Department of Water and the Western Australian Museum.
Partnerships The CSR Project’s network of participating artists, industry professionals, leaders, agencies and organisations has built an alliance with pioneering partners.
Carly Davenport Acker Cultural Program Manager, FORM
Mabel Wakarta, Yirajara, (detail) 2008, Martumili Artists
As one observer remarked, the paintings sing, and I understand many of the artworks were created to the accompaniment of traditional songs about those places. The timing of this project is also very important. Through Our Eyes is a link to the last living generation of Aboriginal people who remember what Australia was like before the arrival of non-Indigenous Australians. The exhibition is therefore a significant link to the heritage of all Australians. This major project, brokered by FORM, has drawn together substantial contributions from the State Government, corporate sector, in particularly BHP Billiton Iron Ore, and nine Aboriginal community businesses representing the artists involved.
FORM 357 Murray Street Perth www.form.net.au
Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery 16 Edgar Street Port Hedland www.courthousegallery.com.au
This exhibition is designed and delivered by FORM. FORM is assisting in building social capacity and economic opportunity through cultural and artistic activity for nine Aboriginal enterprises in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid West and Gold fields regions via the CSR Project. See the Project online on www.form.net.au
Through Our Eyes is proudly presented by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia Principal Sponsors FORM gratefully acknowledges the support of BHP Billiton Iron Ore as The Canning Stock Route Project’s founding and major partner.
Lynda Dorrington, Executive Director, FORM
Through Our Eyes The
Canning Stock Route 5 September – 18 October 2008
Supporting Partners
Department of Culture and the Arts Government of Western Australia
Art Centres
A collection of works from nine remote arts and cultural enterprises in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Midwest and Goldfields regions of Western Australia
(Cover) Elizabeth Nyumi, Wirrirpi, 770x1520mm, 2007, Warlayirti Artists; (below) Helen Hill, between Wells 27 and 28
Through Our Eyes – The Canning Stock Route exhibition is a kaleidoscope of colour, culture and country as shared by emerging and established Aboriginal artists of the Western Desert. Through Our Eyes is a journey through the lands of 29 artists from nine arts and cultural organisations in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields and Midwest regions of Western Australia. Through Our Eyes is an initiative of the Canning Stock Route Project [CSR Project], a four year arts development project involving 89 artists, cultural advisors, and traditional custodians in partnership with Papunya Tula Artists (Kiwirrkurra), Paraku IPA (Mulan), Kayili Artists (Patjarr), Tjukurba Gallery (Wiluna), Yulparija Artists (Bidyadanga), Mangkaja Artists (Fitzroy Crossing), Ngurra Artists (Wangkajunga), Martumili Artists (Newman/ Parnngurr/ Punmu/ Jigalong/ Kunawarritji) and Warlayirti Artists (Balgo). The regions’ multiple art centres communicate a broad spectrum of styles, techniques and stories that interweave the artists’ passionate celebration of their country. Each work of art is a personal history, revealing multiple perspectives of family life, survival and knowledge of waterholes, hunting, the interconnectedness of traditional Law across the desert and the importance of culture in looking after country. The voices of each artist, the movement, resonance, and light captured in each work - paintings, photography and short films were all produced during a series of in-country artist workshops. This exhibition presents the strong and dynamic linkages of people to country, connections continually reinforced by the artists through their practice. Through Our Eyes provides a window into contemporary, community life experienced by Walmajarri, Kukatja, Martu, Wangkajunga, Manyjilyjarra, Yulparija, Putijarra and Ngaanyatjarra peoples across the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts. Through Our Eyes also features a showcase of short films and photography entitled Through the Lens which captures the insight and fresh humour of three young, emerging multimedia practitioners: Kenneth ‘KJ’ Martin, Morika Biljabu and Clint Dixon. Through the Lens also presents a short film by Nicki Ma, the Project’s lead filmmaker and mentor, showing highlights of the epic 1800km Canning Stock Route and the artists’ six week return-to-country journey in 2007.
Vision and Livelihoods The diverse environment and cultures celebrated by the CSR Project traverse some of the planet’s