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.
Showing posts with label Pacific Jewel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pacific Jewel. Show all posts

Sunday 9 January 2011

Two Ships in dock - Painting the 'Pacific Jewel' and the ex-HMAS Adelaide' at Glebe Island Wharf

In the dock*
*dock 1
1.The area of water between two piers or alongside a pier that receives a ship for loading, unloading, or repairs.
dock 2
1. To clip short or cut off
2. To deprive of a benefit or a part of something, especially as a punishment
3. To withhold or deduct a part from dock 3

An enclosed place where the defendant stands or sits in a court of law. Idiom: 'in the dock'
On trial or under intense scrutiny. (Definitions of 'Dock' courtesy of the Free Dictionary)


2 ships on Glebe Island Wharf- one under repair and one being systematically pulled to pieces, both literally and metaphorically.
After a problem developed in the propulsion system, the 'Pacific Jewel' had to cool its heels for quite a while, first at Barangaroo, then for over a week at Glebe Island and finally at Captain Cook dry dock over at Garden Island.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting the 'Pacific Jewel'
en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf
Available
The engines had broken down and after a few days the cruise ship was moved to the Naval dry dock at Woolloomooloo on Saturday 30th November, unfortunately while I was at the Eveleigh field day.
When I asked a couple of blokes in overalls how long the repairs would take, one of them said that they had to move an item weighing about 45 tons to get to the broken bit. When I asked how that was going, they laughed and said that they had managed about 8 tons of it so far; about 37 to go.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting the 'Pacific Jewel' en plein air
at Glebe Island Wharf,
oil painting by artist Jane Bennett 27th October 2010
Available 
Starting the new canvas. It was a sullen overcast day with very gusty winds. I knew it would be hopeless to try any painting on the open wharf next day. I didn't know how long that the 'Pacific Jewel' would be staying at Glebe Island. Nor did anyone else.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting the 'Pacific Jewel' at Glebe Island
on 29th October 2010
Available 
I resumed painting on the 29th, which was just as well as the day after this, the 'Pacific Jewel' was sent to Captain Cook Dry Dock at Garden Island. I unfortunately missed this as I had committed myself to be "Artist in Residence" at the Eveleigh Field Day, and try as I might I still haven't mastered the knack of being in 2 places at the one time.
See my post in this blog about the Eveleigh Field Day
However I managed to catch up with the 'Pacific Jewel' a couple of days later at Captain Cook dock, courtesy of Eptec, who were also painting the ship.
White.
With really big rollers.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting the 'Pacific Jewel' en plein air
at Glebe Island Wharf,
oil painting by artist Jane Bennett
Available 
When it started to rain again I didn't feel like going home so I went over to say hello to Chris and the guys and renew my acquaintance with the Adelaide. I was able to get a little shelter from the weather as they have containers and demountables.
The ex-HMAS Adelaide has been lying doggo off Glebe Island for over a year now. You can see it in the background of this canvas, to the left of the 'Pacific Jewel'.
The Adelaide has had a chequered career. Adelaide was the ship which intercepted SIEV 4 on 6th October 2001, which was the event that sparked the Children overboard affair
I have rather a collection of paintings of notorious ships e.g the 'MV Tampa'.  
Painting the ex HMAS Adelaide en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
'The 'ex HMAS Adelaide' 1 year later
at Glebe Island wharf' 2010
oil painting on canvas 25 x 51cm
Available 

The seemingly never-ending saga of the poor old Adelaide continues. There's not much left of her to sink now! Almost everything that can be removed has been removed.
There is a huge gang of workmen clad in fluoro orange overalls ( excellent colour choice from my point of view - it is the complementary opposite to the pale grey-green of the hull) busy stripping her out, but there is still a 'Waiting for Godot' atmosphere hanging over this flurry of activity.
You see, we've been through this all before.
The vessel had been prepared for scuttling from its arrival in late 2009 to early 2010. Her mast was cut off so that it wouldn't become a navigational hazard once the ship was scuttled. Dangerous materials, weapons, systems and potential toxins were removed, and diver access holes were cut in the ship's flanks.
Originally the Adelaide was scheduled to have been sunk on the 27th March, 2010, in 32 metres of water, 1.7 kilometres offshore from Avoca Beach, until a literally last minute court challenge nipped this in the bud. Local stirrers campaigned to prevent the scuttling, with claims that the wreck had the "potential to affect tides and littoral sand drift", and that the "removal of chemicals and hazardous materials in the ship had not been completely thorough".
An appeal by the protest groups to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal three days before the sinking saw the project placed on hold. The case was to have been heard on 5 May 2010, but this was postponed until July.
On 15th September, the Tribunal finally ruled that scuttling of the ship could go ahead after the removal of canvas, insulation, any remaining wiring, (which allegedly may contain polychlorinated biphenyls) and exfoliating paint (which may allegedly contain red lead).
There will be another attempt to scuttle her in April 2011, but there are no guarantees that there won't be further court action to delay or even stop proceedings.
The suspense continues...


Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting 'Pacific Jewel' en plein air
at Glebe Island Wharf,
oil painting by artist Jane Bennett
Available 

I'm usually the only painter on the wharf.
Other people are painting the ship too! White, and with really big rollers. Here is a glimpse of them at the top of the orange crane in the background. When I first arrived and said to the security guard that I had come to paint the ship, this is what he thought I meant.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting 'Pacific Jewel' en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf,
oil painting by artist Jane Bennett
Available 
The 'Pacific Jewel' was officially launched with its present name at White Bay Wharf, only about 500 metres to the north, on 14 December 2009, less than a year ago. Originally christened the 'Crown Princess', she was built in 1989 and her maiden call was on the 6th July 1990. Her curved 'dolphin-like' profile was apparently designed by Renzo Piano. The 'Pacific Dawn', her sister ship, is also a frequent visitor to Barangaroo.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Painting 'Pacific Jewel' en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf,
oil painting by artist Jane Bennett
Available 
Due to the ongoing repairs during October 2010, three cruises for October and November (to Vanuatu and Noumea, Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup, and Fiji) had to be cancelled in the start of one of Australia's busiest cruise ship seasons.
Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Portrait of the artist at work
Available 

Painting the Pacific Jewel en plein air at Glebe Island Wharf painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
'The 'Pacific Jewel' at Glebe Island' 2010
oil painting on canvas 31 x 103cm.
Available 
The painting is completed.
This bit of bad luck for the ship was a bit of good luck for me. Normally a cruise ship is docked for a day or less, and the painting has to be small enough to be completed in the time available or the next time around. By now I have quite a comprehensive collection of 'Pacific Jewel' paintings from every conceivable viewpoint, several locations and at most hours of the day or night.

For more paintings and information about the 'MV Tampa':
See my Hungry Mile page in this blog
For more paintings and information about the ex-HMAS Adelaide:
See my White Bay Wharf / Glebe island Wharf page in this blog


Related posts


Thursday 23 September 2010

Art exhibition : Recent Paintings of Barangaroo by Jane Bennett

From Barangaroo to Double Bay :
Paintings Now on Display at the Frances Keevil Gallery until 8th October 2010

plein air oil painting of  demolished cruise ship terminal Wharf 8 at  Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"I saw the number '8' in red... "2010  
oil painting on canvas  51 x 76cm
  Sold
Enquiries about similar paintings
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

plein air oil painting of  demolished cruise ship terminal Wharf 8 at  Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"Out of time " oil painting on canvas 31 x 31 cm
Enquiries about this painting
plein air oil painting of  demolished cruise ship terminal Wharf 8 at  Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"May Open without warning" 
(Inside the loading dock of the former Cruise ship Terminal at Darling Harbour 8)
2010  oil painting on canvas 51 x 76cm
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com
Painted from a similar viewpoint as "May close without warning..."
plein air oil painting of  demolished cruise ship terminal Wharf 8 at  Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"MAY CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING (Inside the loading dock of the former Cruise ship Terminal at Darling Harbour 8)"
oil painting on canvas 51 x 76cm
  Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com
plein air oil painting of 'Maersk Gateshead' at temporary cruise ship facility Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"Night, 'Pacific Jewel'  from the
bridge of the Maersk Gateshead" 2010 
oil painting on canvas 61 x 91 cm
Enquiries about this painting
plein air oil painting of 'Pacific Jewel ' at temporary cruise ship facility Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett
"The Pacific Jewel arrives for the first time 
at the new temporary facilities at Barangaroo" 2010 
oil painting on canvas 
36 x 46 cm
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com








plein air oil painting of 'Pacific Jewel ' at temporary cruise ship facility Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett


































"The Pacific Jewel arrives for the first time
at the new temporary facilities at Barangaroo"
Diptych Left hand canvas 2010
oil painting on canvas 25 x 51 cm each
Total image size 25 x 102cm
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

plein air oil painting of 'Pacific Jewel ' at temporary cruise ship facility Barangaroo by Artist Jane Bennett











"The Pacific Jewel arrives for the first time 
at the new temporary facilities at Barangaroo"
Diptych: 2010 oil on canvas 25 x 51 cm each 
Total image size 25 x 102cm
 Enquiries about this painting

Saturday 31 July 2010

Ships that pass-Painting Sydney Harbour from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead Part 2.

I painted this panoramic canvas of the western side of Sydney Harbour from the bridge of the "Maersk Gateshead".
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour and the tallship James Craig from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH258 'Pyrmont and the James Craig
from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 153cm
Available

This was the last cargo ship to be docked at wharf 5, of the former East Darling Harbour Wharves, which has now been redeveloped into the Barangaroo precinct.
It wasn't unloaded there, but was waiting for repairs and finally left at 3pm Monday 14th June 2010.
The captain watched me painting from the dockside, and was intrigued. After a bit of negotiation I spent the next 4 days having the run of the ship. I painted a series of canvases, from the bridge of the ship itself.
 
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH258 'Pyrmont and the James Craig
from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 153cm
Available




















During my previous 6 or so years as 'Artist in Residence' at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, I had often been invited by various captains to paint from their ship.
This is a view of my 'studio on a ship, with the unfinished canvas on my French Box easel.
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH258 'Pyrmont and the James Craig
from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 153cm
Available




















This shows a close up detail of the left hand side of the same canvas, showing the former wharves of Pyrmont in the shadow of the towers of Jackson's Landing and the Anzac bridge.
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH258 'Pyrmont and the James Craig
from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 153cm
Available




















This close up detail shows the containers of the Maersk Gateshead, and in the distance is the 'Pacific Jewel', the last time a cruise ship would dock at Wharf 8, the 'old' cruise ship terminal. I've put 'old' in inverted commas because it was only built in 1999, as part of the Sydney 2000 Olympics building boom, and now redundant after just over 10 years. Sydney's urban landscape makes 'dog years' look languid.
As soon as the 'Pacific Jewel' left, the fences enclosed the perimeter of the Cruise ship Terminal, and demolition began.
I contrasted the boxy lines of the modern white cruise ship with the lovingly restored tall ship of the Sydney Heritage Fleet, the 'James Craig' making its way back to its home next to Wharf 7, Pyrmont.
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH260 'Millers Point from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 103cm
Sold
Enquiries about similar paintings or prints
I'd often record the bustle of a working wharf beneath me, as well as the workers' terraces perched on High Street and Merriman Street directly opposite and almost at my eye-level.
But this time, everything had changed.
Forever.
The wharf has been scraped to the bone. Wharf buildings, cranes and forklifts have gone, and there is a vast empty void framed with a randomly curved blue line supposedly echoing the original shoreline. A couple of security guards bored out of their tiny minds, walk aimlessly up and down. At least they're getting fit.
I was glad to be on the bridge of the ship and not on the wharf, because on the bridge I was mostly left to paint in peace as the crew had work to get on with.
On the wharf, the guards were nice, but driving me bonkers, because they had no other distractions to relieve their boredom. As it was obvious that the days of painting on the Wharves were numbered, I didn't have time to waste.
The sandstone escarpment and Millers Point workers terraces glow in the reflection of the setting sun, as does the doomed Harbour Control Tower, which was still my studio.
Compare this to a similar panorama of the wharf painted from a similar vantage point of the bridge of another ship, the 'Taiko' only 4 years before.
Plein air oil painting of Sydney harbour from the bridge of a cargo ship docked at the East Darling Harbour Wharves, now Barangaroo, painted by marine artist Jane Bennett
DH33A-B'From the Bridge of the 'Taiko' Diptych''
2006 oil on board 20 x 40cm each
Sold
Enquiries about similar paintings or prints
The lines on the wharf in the 2006 diptych are not random or imposed by a landscape designer. They are pedestrian walkways, and grids to designate parking for trucks, freight or cars, but create a complex interplay of arrows and lines worthy of Jeffrey Smart.
I knew this would be the last cargo ship to ever dock here, and the last time it would be a working wharf. So it was my last chance to see and paint the harbour from this vantage point, and I made the most of it.
After the Maersk Gateshead left, a temporary Cruise Ship Terminal was set up in a large white tent (ok then, a marquee) marking time until the new terminal was built at White Bay. 
As soon as that opened developers were free to literally cut along the dotted line, and the 200 year history of the East Darling Harbour Wharf, aka the 'Hungry Mile' would end.

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The mother art is architecture 

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.

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The mother art is architecture