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JOHN WEERONGA BARTOO
TITLE: "Looking for possum"
SIZE: 45 cm X 45cm (17.7" X 17.7")
MEDIUM: Acrylic on canvas
YEAR PRODUCED: 2006
PROVENANCE: Painting comes directly from the artist.
The story told by John...
Why the goanna has stripes... In the country where I live there are many goannas they are the descendants of the lazy goanna of the dreamtime. These goannas camp near an old dead gum tree, home of the birds. Also in my country we have the camps of the snake and the possum and the porcupine and many other creatures as well as humans. In the dreamtime the lazy goanna stole from the porky-pine and today his descendants carry the marks for this deed.
The goannas promised the porcupines that they would supply the honey to have with the milk if they were allowed to go on the hunt with them for possum, which was a favorite food of the porky-pine. The porcupine when that the lazy goannas would not be of much use, but agreed that they could supply the honey. When the porcupines had gone, the goannas lied around until the hunters returned and to appear helpful offered to cook the possum for the tiered hunters. The porcupine soon fell asleep and in doing so gave, the goannas the opportunity to make off with the cooked possums.
Just as the last goanna was leaving one of the porcupine woke and gave the alarm. Armed with brands from the fire they chased the goanna who was the leader who was the leader of the goannas and weighed down with four possums was soon cornered. The porcupine beat the goanna with the fire brands causing many scars and marks on his back all they could recover were four possum, a poor return for a days hint. Today the descendants of the goanna carry those marks left by the fire brands in the form of strips on their backs. They hunt at nite and are known as scavengers of the forest.
A certificate signed by John, and a photo of him holding the painting will be issued with the work. The painting will be posted via courier stretched as show.
Contact us regarding any questions you may have regarding the work.
Other paintings by John (click images to view):
