The Warwick Art Gallery presents "Earth Song"
an exhibition of paintings and mixed media work by John Weeronga Bartoo, Jon de Graaff, and Louise Hill.
John Weeronga Bartoo, who is the current Local Artist Award Winner and a previous winner of the Warwick Art Prize, will close his exhibition year with this exhibition. John Weeronga Bartoo has been a Premiere Portfolio artist at absolutearts.com since 2007.
John Weeronga Bartoo is also a finalist in the Stan and Maureen Duke Gold Coast Art Prize which opened on Saturday December 12. In addition he will open the in the Christmas Exhibition at the Roxy Gallery in Kyogle on December 15, 2009.
"I was born in Brisbane, a long way from the dusty plains of my ancestors home in South Western Queensland around Dirranbandi and Cunnamulla. I am a self taught artist.
"Both my parents died when I was very young and I was raised by my grandmother who gave me a European education at Villanova College, in Brisbane. I had no contact with Aboriginal culture and this left me very confused.
"I started painting in February 2003 and entered and won my first art competition in July that year – The Indigenous Art Section of the Brisbane RNA. After entering the Inverell Art Competition that same year I was offered my first Solo Exhibition at the Inverell Art Gallery in July 2004, from this exhibition I was asked to be part of a Group Exhibition in Nice, Italy.
"Over the past 5 years my art has taken me to many parts of the world and given me the opportunity to meet & make friends with people of so many different cultures. In 2005, I was the only Aboriginal Australian chosen to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games baton change over exhibition, “The Road To Melbourne” at the Blue Dot Gallery, in Toronto Canada, 2006 I was the first Aboriginal Australian to exhibit at Agora Gallery, in New York City, 2007 I was only the second Australian & first Aboriginal Australian to make the final of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, in Hong Kong & 2008 I am the only Australian in the final of The Palm Art Award in Leipzig, Germany.
"In 2006, I was awarded 'Ercole d’Este' in Ferrara Italy, at this exhibition I joined with 20 + other artists to form 'The Ferrara Collective' and this year under this banner will exhibit in at least 2 exhibitions, firstly at the Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey in March , then at Art Domain Gallery, Leipzig, Germany in August.
"My art is a search for myself and I believe that the spirits of my ancestors are guiding me. As for my future in art I will be guided by my heart and my ancestors." - John Weeronga Bartoo
View more of John Weeronga Bartoo's work in his Premiere Portfolio at absolutearts.com absolutearts.com/johnweerongabartoo.
Image:
John Weeronga Bartoo
423 Spirit Children
Year Created: 2009
Medium: Painting Acrylic
Width: 87 cm
Height: 68 cm
Price: US$ 1,575
Purchase This Work
Related Links:
