Journeys Explores Cultural Heritage of Durness


Journeys, an exhibition by Joanne Kaar, which will be travelling around Mackay country as part of the Highland Year of Culture 2007, explores the natural landscape and cultural heritage of Durness. In a three month residency last year Joanne, who is a paper artist, explored ideas in response to either an event from the history of the area or an aspect of the environment and in doing so has created an unusual and thought-provoking collection of work. On the 12 August 1849 an emigrant ship called the Canton was shipwrecked off the rocks at Clack Mhor Na Faraid. Some accounts say that all except a black pig were drowned while others say only the crew was lost. On 12 August 2006 Joanne threw six identical bottles into the sea off Faraid Head so she could discover where goods from the ship would have been taken by the sea. Amongst the many things washed ashore from the wreck were Clydesdale Bank notes which had been cut in two diagonally. This may have been done for security reasons by the owners, who would have sent the balance by another route to wherever the ship was headed, where they would be reunited on completion of a safe passage. Joanne made a series of bank notes and photographed them scattered over Blanakeil Beach.

On 3 August she threw a book into the sea at Sango Sands. The pages of the book were made from a variety of different handmade papers including linen fibre, ellie poo, out of date herbs and waste paper. She explains “I wanted to discover what the effects of the sea would have on the papers and the binding. It looked alive while floating in between the waves. Now dry and still full of sand, it looks like it has been on an exciting journey.” There are many ancient historical sites hidden around the landscape of Durness and Joanne visited a site to the west of Loch Barralie which has Norse beginnings. “Archaeologists had already investigated, and covered the site with rabbit proof mesh held in place with a grid of stones to protect it for the future” she says. “When documenting a site, archaeologists use a variety of bright coloured markers and flags. I brought my own archaeological markers of bright yellow nuggets of paper pulp to highlight the patterns of stones, some made by the archaeologists and others much more ancient.” The Sango Sands book, a message in a bottle and a bank note from Balnakeil Beach are just some of the items included in the Journeys exhibition which is contained in 15 boxes within a specially adapted canoe. Each box explores a different trail from the past, bringing it into the present, and there are also three boxes of work by primary school pupils in Durness, Achfary and Kinlochbervie. The exhibition is touring Mackay country during 2007 and for details about dates and venues contact ronnie@durness.org Throughout the residency Joanne scribbled and sketched in a blog book made with pages from her favourite denim jeans and this blog can be read online at www.joannebkaar.blogspot.com The residency was the first arts-based project by Mackay Country and the Durness Development Group and was supported by a National Lottery grant through the Scottish Arts Council with partnership funding from Highland Year of Culture 2007. © Tina Rose, 2007