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John Weeronga Bartoo - Statement/Bio |
John with the
Australian Ambassador to Italy at the opening
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.
In 1964 I married my wife Kay, we have 3 daughters & 6 grandchildren. During my working life I worked for Telstra as a Communications Officer, then 15 years ago left Brisbane for the peace & quiet of the country in the mountains near Warwick in Queensland. It was while working for a herbal company in Warwick that I fell ill and it was during my recovery in late 2002 that I felt an urge to paint.
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” & 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 October.
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.
Designed & Maintained by AOR
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