ROOTSEY, Joe
1918 - 1963

Barrow Point people, Ama Wuringu clan
1918, Barrow Point, QLD – 1963, Cooktown, QLD

Joe Alamanhthin Rootsey spent his early years working on numerous cattle stations before marrying and finally settling on ‘Olivevale’, near Laura, west of Cooktown. In 1954, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent two years at the Cairns Base Hospital. It was during this time that he began sketching, inspired by memories of his country around Cooktown and Barrow Point. After Rootsey’s works were exhibited at the Cairns Show, his talent was brought to the attention of the Department of Native Affairs. In 1958, he was invited by the department to attend the Central Technical College in Brisbane to undertake art training. Rootsey once again became ill with tuberculosis and died at Cooktown Hospital on 27 June 1963, aged 45.

2014

Principal country: Australia QLD
Cultural identity: Barrow Point people, Ama Wuringu clan
Date of birth: 1918
Date of death: 1963

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

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ROOTSEY, Joe 1918 - 1963

Creator details

(Landscape) c.1962-63

(Escarpment) c.1960

(Rainbow plateau) c.1960

(Self portrait) c.1960

(Landscape near Horwick) c.1960

(Green landscape) c.1960

(Landscape near Kalpower) c.1960

(Stand of trees) c.1960

(Landscape near Wakooka) c.1960

(Cleared country) c.1960

(Landscape west of Barrow Point) c.1960

(Twin gum) c.1960

(White tree) c.1960

(Waterfall and stream) c.1960

Bullock paddock c.1960

(Brown pig) c.1960

(Felled tree) c.1960

(Red road) c.1960

(Red escarpment) c.1960

McLean Bridge on the way to Mt Tamborine c.1959

(Kalpower) c.1959

(Tree and fence on the way to Samford) c.1959

Untitled (Anthills and escarpment) c.1959

(Landscape with road and fence) c.1959

(Looking over Cooktown) c.1958

(The Pinnacles at Wakooka) c.1958

(Ghost gum) c.1958

(Landscape) c.1958

(Aboriginal men and dog) c.1954

(Creek) c.1954

(Aboriginal station hand) c.1954

(Aboriginal camp) c.1954

(Water birds) c.1954

(Creek) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Aboriginal men at creek) c.1954

(Kids hunting kangaroo) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Aboriginal station hand) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Aboriginal station hand) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Waterfall) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Waterfall) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Coastal landscape) c.1954

(Waterfall) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

(Landscape) c.1954

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ROOTSEY, Joe
1918 - 1963