Karma
Barnes

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC Day) celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. It is a day to celebrate and to reflect together on how best Australia can move forward to look after Country and each other, while reflecting on and learning from the past.

When I first moved to the Northern Rivers Region in 2010 I met with Arakwal custodian Delta Kay to share with her my work and talk to her about gathering materials and working on Country. After this meeting Delta invited me to collaborate with the local community and the Arakwal Land Council on an art installation for NAIDOC Day on Byron Bay's foreshore. Since then I have worked with Delta Kay, Byron Shire Council and the local community on many community art installations for NAIDOC Day and Close the Gap events. ​
 

Working for these cultural events has been an opportunity to learn and connect with Bundjalung culture, to give something to the Indigenous community who's land I live upon and allowed me to develop a deep connect and understanding of the Bundjalung soils, sands and earthen pigments.

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The installations have celebrated the the geological diversity from the region and its volcanic history. Materials have included Red Ochre, charcoal, Angalow Basalt, Goonengerry Rhyolite and different metamorphic soils from around the region. Materials are usual gathered from already disturbed sites so as not to generate any environmental disruption. The Impermanent artworks were totally biodegradable and slowly weathered by the elements the pigments return to the environment.