untiled Turkey Creek

This small work was acquired by the original owner directly from Rover at Turkey Creek Roadhouse around 1992 and therefore the provenance is ‘purchased in the field’. It appears evident that a mixture of pigments and acrylic paint have been applied to a small Fredrix painting board. The frame has been added at a later stage. It is a typical ‘topographical’ painting that Rover stated was of Turkey Creek, showing the road, hills and other local features and it was evident that it was not related to a Dreaming or mythological story.

Rover Thomas (now deceased) is considered to be one of Australia’s most important artists and in 1990 with Trevor Nicholls, was the first Indigenous artist to participate in the Venice Biennale. His close association with Paddy Tjamatji at Turkey Creek, introduced him to painting late in life, however Rover was a desert man, born near Well 33 on the Canning Stock  Route. After his parents death a drover named Wally Dowling took him north to Billiluna and the Kimberley where he became a stockman  and eventually married and settled at Turkey Creek. His painting while influenced by his desert background, was strongly anchored in Gija mythology, introduced to him in a series of spirit dreams associated with the death of a member of Paddy's family. This was the origin of the Gurirr Gurirr Ceremony. While associated closely with Waringarri Aboriginal Arts established in the early 1980s and later Warmun Art Centre, (established in 1998), Rover along with many artists of the time, were largely independent and would sell their work directly to the public as they played cards outside the Turkey Creek Road House.

The canvas board has been float mounted on the backing board and set in a timber frame.