Circular Economies Residency: Ilona McGuire in Carnamah #1

Apr 28

Ilona McGuire is currently working with the community of Carnamah (Amangu and Badymia land), hosted by North Midlands Project. This residency is part of SPACED’s current regional residency program, SPACED 5: Circular Economies.

Ilona shares her experiences of the area during the first part of her residency via the following reflection.

A Dry and Dusty Dystopia : My first two weeks in Carnamah

Just under 4 hours drive north from my apartment by the sea, I ventured up and out into Amangu/Badymia boodja.

Through long stretches of harvested wheat fields, I prepared myself for what I expect of these country towns. It's hard to tell how you'll be treated in country towns as an Aboriginal person, unless you've been there before. And this is my first time visiting Carnamah, but to be honest my excitement for something different distracts me from any unease.

I imagine how different this landscape looked over these expanses not too long ago... and what my old people knew about them... How tall were the trees? Where were the waterholes? Where did they sleep? Where did they have ceremony? I never expect to find the answers, but I always ask. A bit of my heart feels sad to think about it, but that's just the way our story goes, unna?

Flowing between songs of praise, Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley, I open the windows to let a fresh wind in. I reminisced about my family trips to Kellerberrin, Northam and Beverly. Hunting yonga, finding bush foods, waterholes, things to do in the calm of Country. I wondered what Carnamah might offer me and what I could offer to Carnamah. Hopefully something fresh and uplifting like this breeze.

Arriving in this quaint little town, my mind quietened. Much more aware of my own presence, I step out of my turbulent little Honda Civic. Feeling the warm sun, it's about midday but I don't see anyone around for a while, except in a few passing trucks. North Midlands is like an oasis, nice cool aircon and a lovely communal space - I meet some of the team and settle in for the week in a lovely house on MacPherson Street.

I slept so well every night, with vivid dreams, the way I dream when I'm far from the city. I started my first full day in Carnamah early in the morning. With plenty of time to ponder and stroll slowly, I chose to jog around town, still on Perth time.

With all this time, I observed my surroundings and let the country speak to me. There were these massive flocks of both Karrak (Red-Tail Black Cockatoo) and Manatj (White Cockatoo) who seem to hang out around town despite the weather. The Manatj flock to this group of gum trees near the footy oval. And the Karrak flock closer to the town centre. I wonder if they dream about the trees their ancestors nested in.

I spent some time with local historian, Andrew, and got the lowdown on the town. He told me a story that stuck with me. Something about a man named Albert, one of the Aboriginal sons of the founding MacPherson family. Who had rose to national fame for having cured himself of tongue cancer all with ancient science and the Maroon bush. This was a beautiful story that is not uncommon in our communities. But I felt drawn to it because of its spirit of healing, innovation, and as a prime example of ancient knowledge curing a seemingly modern disease. Perhaps this is a metaphor for something greater. Something worth exploring during my time here...

Photos courtesy of the artist: Big flock of Manatj hanging out near the gumtrees and dancing in the sky, bits n bobs at the Carnamah Museum, MacPherson Street, nice rusty tools at the Carnamah Museum, sheep friends hanging out at the MacPherson family homestead.

More information about the Circular Economies artists, host communities and projects as they unfold can be found by subscribing to SPACED’s monthly email newsletter, and following SPACED on Facebook and Instagram.

Learn more about Ilona McGuire.

Circular Economies is produced as a joint partnership by PICA - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and SPACED.