Industrial Cathedral

Industrial Cathedral
"Industrial Cathedral" charcoal on paper 131 x 131 cm Jane Bennett. Finalist in 1998 Dobell Drawing Prize Art Gallery of NSW Finalist 1998 Blake Prize Winner 1998 Hunter's Hill Open Art Prize

About Me

My photo
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I'm an Industrial Heritage Artist who paints "en plein air".If it's damaged, derelict, doomed and about to disappear, I'll be there to paint it.

Monday 26 July 2010

The End of an Era - The "Maersk Gateshead" Arrives

Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the wharf at Barangaroo
Enquiries about this painting

This was the last container ship ever to enter Sydney Harbour. I was permitted to paint it, not only from the wharf, but from the bridge of the ship, courtesy of the Captain, Mark Carter.
 
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
On my easel is the completed oil painting of the
'Maersk Gateshead' which I sold to the Captain.
Enquiries about similar paintings
I spent 4 days painting from different vantage points on the ship, knowing that I was witness to the end of an era.
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the wharf at Barangaroo
Enquiries about this painting

The 'Maersk Gateshead' only made her unplanned visit to Sydney Harbour because her engines became disabled. Rather than return to Port Botany or sail further into Sydney Harbour to dock at Glebe Island, as originally planned, the Captain decided to make use of the recently vacated wharf at BarangarooJane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
DH255 'Early morning, the Maersk Gateshead at Barangaroo'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 61cm
Enquiries about this painting
The 'Maersk Gateshead' was not originally intended to enter Sydney Harbour at all. It had been near Botany, when it was discovered that the engines were disabled, and after some discussion, it was decided at first to send it to Glebe Island.
I was painting the ex-Hmas Adelaide and the OES Barge which were both then docked at Glebe.
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
DH257 'The Maersk Gateshead, preparing to depart Barangaroo'
2010 oil on canvas 40 x 120cm
Enquiries about this painting
On the 7th June the OES Barge was waiting for the weather conditions to permit it to go to Botany, where it was to start the trials for laying cables.
There was quite a big swell at Botany- a wide windy shallow bay at the best of times.
Suddenly the OES people were told to move the barge from Glebe to neighbouring White Bay, to accomodate the disabled ship.
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the
bridge of the ship at Barangaroo.
An unfinished oil painting of the panorama
from Pyrmont and White Bay to Balmain 25 x 152cm

But the expected ship did not arrive at Glebe - the captain had decided to instead move his ship, the 'Maersk Gateshead', to the vacant lot at the former DH5.
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the
bridge of the ship at Barangaroo.
A central view of the prow of the ship
featuring its rows of containers.
The Sydney CBD and the heritage terrace
houses of Miller's Point are in the background.
Oil painting on canvas 38 x 76cm
Enquiries about this painting
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
DH256 'The 'Pacific Jewel at wharf 7 from
the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 38 x 76cm
Enquiries about this painting
The ship was not unloaded at the wharf, but waited for repairs and finally left at 3pm Monday 14th June. I understood the historical significance and made sure that I took advantage of the situation.
As well as painting from the dockside, after a bit of negotiation I was permitted to paint from the bridge of the ship itself.
Jane Bennett oil painting of container ship 'Maersk Gateshead' at Barangaroo
"Night, 'Pacific Jewel' from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead"
2010 oil painting on canvas 61 x 91 cm
Enquiries about this painting
From the bridge of the "Maersk Gateshead"at night. The "Pacific Jewel" Cruise ship is turning in the background, ready to depart Sydney Harbour.
This was a historic moment - the last time that a cruise ship would dock at the old cruise ship terminal at Darling Harbour Wharf 8.
It is highly unlikely that any other container ship will ever be allowed to dock at Barangaroo again.
If the recent article by Paul Keating in the Sydney Morning Herald is any indication, the cruise ships will be evicted to White Bay as soon as possible.

Related articles




Related Posts





The mother art is architecture 

No comments: