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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.

Principal country
Australia QLD
Cultural identity
Barrow Point people, Ama Wuringu clan
Date of birth
1918
Date of death
1963
Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1962-01-01

(Landscape) c.1962-63

Artwork (Self portrait) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Self portrait) c.1960

Artwork (Cleared country) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Cleared country) c.1960

Artwork (White tree) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(White tree) c.1960

Artwork (Kalpower) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Kalpower) c.1959

Artwork (Landscape with road and fence) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Landscape with road and fence) c.1959

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1957-01-01

(Landscape) c.1958

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Aboriginal station hand) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Aboriginal station hand) c.1954

Artwork (Creek) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Creek) c.1954

Artwork (Creek) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Creek) c.1954

Artwork (Red road) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Red road) c.1960

Artwork (Green landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Green landscape) c.1960

Artwork (Landscape near Wakooka) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Landscape near Wakooka) c.1960

Artwork (Waterfall and stream) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Waterfall and stream) c.1960

Artwork McLean Bridge on the way to Mt Tamborine this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

McLean Bridge on the way to Mt Tamborine c.1959

Artwork (Looking over Cooktown) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Looking over Cooktown) c.1958

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and gouache on paper

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Waterfall) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and gouache on paper

(Waterfall) c.1954

Artwork (Station) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and gouache on paper

(Station) c.1954

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Aboriginal station hand) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Aboriginal station hand) c.1954

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Coloured pencil on paper

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Red escarpment) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Red escarpment) c.1960

Artwork (Rainbow plateau) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Rainbow plateau) c.1960

Artwork (Landscape near Kalpower) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Landscape near Kalpower) c.1960

Artwork (Twin gum) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Twin gum) c.1960

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

Bullock paddock c.1960

Artwork (Felled tree) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Felled tree) c.1960

Artwork Untitled (Anthills and escarpment) this artwork made of Watercolour on paperboard

Untitled (Anthills and escarpment) c.1959

Artwork (The Pinnacles at Wakooka) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1957-01-01

(The Pinnacles at Wakooka) c.1958

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Gouache, black ink and coloured pencil on paper on board

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Coastal landscape) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Coastal landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Bull fight) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Bull fight) c.1954

Artwork (Sketches) this artwork made of Graphite on paper

(Sketches) c.1954

Artwork (Aboriginal camp) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Aboriginal camp) c.1954

Artwork (Aboriginal men at creek) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Aboriginal men at creek) c.1954

Artwork (Escarpment) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Escarpment) c.1960

Artwork (Landscape near Horwick) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Landscape near Horwick) c.1960

Artwork (Stand of trees) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Stand of trees) c.1960

Artwork (Landscape west of Barrow Point) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1958-01-01

(Landscape west of Barrow Point) c.1960

Artwork (Brown pig) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Brown pig) c.1960

Artwork (Tree and fence on the way to Samford) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on paper, created in 1958-01-01

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

Artwork (Ghost gum) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1957-01-01

(Ghost gum) c.1958

Artwork Long Beach this artwork made of Coloured pencil and gouache on paper

Long Beach c.1954

Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and gouache on paper

(Landscape) c.1954

Artwork (Waterfall) this artwork made of Gouache on paper on board

(Waterfall) c.1954

Artwork (Aboriginal men and dog) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Aboriginal men and dog) c.1954

Artwork (Water birds) this artwork made of Coloured pencil and graphite on paper

(Water birds) c.1954

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