Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo

HMAS Perth, HMAS Parramatta, HMS Daring & USS Chosin were berthed at Barangaroo for a few days during the recent International Fleet Review celebrations. I was given access to paint there on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th. The ships finally left on Friday 11th October. I painted their departure from the vantage point of my studio at the Sydney Ports Corporation Headquarters at Moore's Wharf.

These will have been the last ships to ever officially berth at Barangaroo.

This 22 hectare site, previously known as the 'Hungry Mile' was a wharf for over 200 years.

It's the end of an era and I'm the only one who seems to have noticed.

 Starting to paint my canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo' 
2013 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I was allowed to drive my car onto the Barangaroo wharf, probably the last time I would ever be able to do so.
I started this painting at about 9am on Wednesday morning.

Starting to paint the sea on my canvas 
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm 
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Painting the sea on my canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

A truck drove up to the gangway and a conga line of sailors passed boxes of provisions onto the ship.
I wondered why the USS Chosin didn't use its ship's cranes instead, but I was grateful to be able to put so many of the crew in the background. It's a bit difficult to see them in the photo below - you'll need a magnifying glass as each figure is only a few millimetres high!

The completed canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
 2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I finished my painting by 11am, and moved further down the wharf to start painting the other ships.

 Starting my painting of
HMS Daring on Barangaroo wharf
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

My painting of 'HMS Daring
on Barangaroo wharf' 2013
oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

HMS Daring has a very odd motif on its crest - an outstretched hand suspended over a red-hot cauldron. Not so much "daring" as "foolhardy" or at least "bi-polar". It apparently derives from a legendary hero of Ancient Rome who had a major difference of opinion with his emperor and wanted to make a point in a rather drastic fashion.

One of the officers gave me a sticker of the crest, which I have put on the trolley luggage I use to carry my easel in.

It's an appropriate motto.

Starting my painting of HMAS Parramatta
and HMAS Perth on Barangaroo wharf

Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

My painting of 'HMAS Parramatta and
 HMAS Perth on Barangaroo wharf'
2013 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Unfortunately this post is a few weeks later than intended.

I haven't been able to post anything on my blog or Facebook for a while as I had a car accident and damaged my shoulder not long after painting these. It's been quite frustrating as I still find it a bit painful to paint or even type, but it's slowly getting better.

Related articles

Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo Part 2

Barangaroo - Where Art, Architecture, History, Politics and Economics meet

The discussion "Why the hullaballoo about Barangaroo? Where Art, Architecture, History, Politics and Economics meet" was held on Sunday 10th March, in the courtyard of the Frances Keevil Gallery, where my solo exhibition "From the Hungry Mile to Barangaroo" continues until Sunday March 24th.

This was a brave experiment.

Neither Frances nor myself have ever put together anything like this before.

It was well worth it! The conversation between the panel members was informative, entertaining and at times passionate and stirring. The audience was enthralled - many of them stayed on afterwards to ask questions, take photos and even get autographs!

Meet the distinguished panel: 

From left to right : 

Philip Thalis, Dr Jack Mundey AO, Alex Greenwich MP, John McInerney, Dr Graham Jahn AM

And the facilitator for the event, the renowned investigative journalist, Quentin Dempster.

From left to right - 

 Dr Jack Mundey AO, Alex Greenwich MP, John McInerney, Dr Graham Jahn AM, Quentin Dempster, and Frances Keevil, Director of the Frances Keevil Gallery.

Dr Jack Mundey AO, is the legendary elder statesman of activism. He spoke movingly of the history of the famous Green Bans, in which as secretary of the New South Wales Builders' Labourers Federation (BLF), he led a successful campaign to protect the built and natural environment of Sydney from inappropriate development.
Apart from his unique credentials as a champion of heritage and sustainable urban planning, Jack had played an important part at the beginning of the story of the Barangaroo development.
 In 2006, Jack was a member of the jury to choose the design for Barangaroo. The jury had unanimously selected the design by the team headed by Philip Thalis - which bizarrely has now been completely discarded by LendLease, the developers of the site.
Incidentally, LendLease's design had come a distant second in the initial competition.

Philip Thalis, deep in thought.
Philip Thalis is the principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects. 
His design team won the competition to design Barangaroo - yet their design has not been adopted for the actual construction.

Philip Thalis gave a thought-provoking speech pointing out flaws in both the process and the design.The contrast between the potential of what Barangaroo, could and should have been, and the unfortunate reality was made completely clear to the audience.

John McInerney, previously for many years a Councillor of the City of Sydney, is now the "President of Australians for Sustainable Development". He has a wealth of experience in how councils and the State government interact throughout the stages of planning and development, and provided startling images of the impact of the Barangaroo buildings which are currently under construction.

John McInerney examined many of the peculiarities of the entire planning process of the controversial Barangaroo project, and exposed some very disturbing implications for the future of Sydney. Most people in the audience had not previously grasped the consequences of some of these decisions and were completely gobsmacked.

 

Alex Greenwich MP in action. 
His speech about the development of Barangaroo being used as a "Trojan Horse" to  force the displacement of the residents of Millers Point, was passionate and articulate.

Dr Graham Jahn AM, Director of Planning and Transport at the City of Sydney.

Dr Graham Jahn AM, added some background detail.

Quentin Dempster was a wonderful choice as facilitator for the discussion. His polite, yet probing questions brought out the best in the panel. The chaotic and complex narrative of the planning process behind Barangaroo was revealed to the eager audience.

Dr Jack Mundey AO, Alex Greenwich MP, John McInerney - 3 champions of social justice.

Jack and me 

 

 

I can't thank all the participants enough for their wonderful efforts to make this discussion a success!
And I am just as grateful to Lynn and Frances, Directors of the Frances Keevil Gallery for stepping well outside their comfort zone to host this event at the gallery and to organize it so well.

Related posts

From the Hungry Mile to Barangaroo 

Storm Warning, Goat Island 

Lashed to the Mast

An April update 

Why the Hullaballoo about Barangaroo

'From the Hungry Mile to Barangaroo'

My solo exhibition 'From the Hungry Mile to Barangaroo' will be held at the Frances Keevil Gallery until 24th March 2013.

'Goat Island from Moore's Wharf'

2013 oil on canvas 122 x 183cm Sold

The 'Hungry Mile''
2007 oil on canvas 100 x 122cm
Enquiries about these paintings
This exhibition will be the major event for Art Month, and will opened by Elizabeth Fortescue, Visual Arts Writer for The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday 5th March 2013, 6 – 8pm.

'Wharf 6/7' 1999 oil on canvas 61 x 101cm
'Harbour Control Tower from Moore's Wharf ' 
2013 oil on canvas 51 x 25cm  Sold

'L3' Crane, with the 'Taiko'

2006 oil on canvas 51 x 25cm

'Barangaroo from Glebe Island' 2010

oil on canvas 31 x 61 cm  Sold

'The empty wharf from shed 6' 2008

oil on canvas 31 x 61cm

'Interior, Wharf 8-9' 2000

oil on canvas 31 x 61cm

'Night, from bridge of 'Maersk Gateshead'

2009 oil on canvas 61 x 91cm

'The 'Southern Cross'

2007 oil on canvas 31 x 92cm Sold

Enquiries about these paintings

'Yellow cranes from the cage'

2007 oil on canvas 153 x 61cm Sold

'Capitaine Tasman' + 'Caledonie Express' night

2007 oil on canvas 31x103cm

'The last call of the 'Tampa'

2007 oil on canvas 31x103cm

'Forklifts in the fog panorama'

2007 oil on canvas 31x103cm

'The Pacific Dawn with demolition of Shed 6'

2008 oil on canvas 31x103cm

Enquiries about these paintings

The gallery was still hanging the exhibition when these photos were taken.

'The Last of the Hungry Mile' 2007 oil on canvas 180 x 122cm
FINALIST : 2008 SULMAN PRIZE, ART GALLERY OF NSW
'Walsh Bay Wharves, Moore's Wharf and the Hungry Mile'
2002 oil on canvas 122 x 152cm
'Relics from the 'Dead House' 2007 oil on canvas 122 x 100cm
Enquiries about these paintings

The paintings show the transition of the former wharf, East Darling Harbour, known as the "Hungry Mile", to the construction site, Barangaroo.

'Sydney Harbour Panorama from the Stamford on Kent'
2007 oil on canvas 25 x 153cm Sold

'Moore's Wharf from the bridge of 'Scholarship'

2007 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm Sold

Moore's Wharf, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Walsh Bay Wharves'

2007 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm Sold

'Wharf Skeleton' 2008 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

'The wharves and High St from the Stamford on Kent'

2007 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm"

'The Last of the Hungry Mile' 2007 oil on canvas 180 x 122cm
FINALIST : 2008 SULMAN PRIZE, ART GALLERY OF NSW
Enquiries about these paintings

I've had a ring-side seat to paint this fascinating area, courtesy of many businesses and private individuals, who had to put up with having a self-appointed "Artist in Residence" paint from their offices, shops, cafes or homes.

'Harbour Control Tower from Moore's Wharf '

2013 oil on canvas 51 x 25cm Sold

'L3' Crane, with 'Taiko' 2006

oil on canvas 51 x 25cm

'The 'Charlotte ' passing Goat Island 2011

oil on canvas 15 x 18cm Sold 

'Goat Island from Moore's Wharf' 2010

oil on canvas 45 x 91 cm

'High Street from the wharf' 2007

oil on canvas 31 x 41cm

'Forklifts in the fog' 2007

oil on canvas 31 x 41cm

Enquiries about these paintings

I've been able to create large-scale plein air canvases in the middle of the Barangaroo demolition site, from the top of the Harbour Control Tower and in Moore's Wharf, the headquarters of the Sydney Ports Corporation Emergency Response Tugs and Pilot Boats.

'Sydney Harbour Panorama from the Stamford on Kent'
2007 oil on canvas 25 x 153cm Sold
Moore's Wharf from the bridge of the 'Scholarship'
2007 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm Sold
Moore's Wharf, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Walsh Bay Wharves'
2007 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm Sold
'Wharf Skeleton' 2008 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

'The wharves and High St from Stamford on Kent'

2007 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

Enquiries about these paintings
These are the last outposts of maritime and industrial activity, once so familiar around Sydney Harbour.

'Wharf Skeleton' 2008 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

'The wharves and High St from the Stamford on Kent'

2007 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

Enquiries about these paintings
 
See also my previous solo exhibition in 2011 at the Frances Keevil Gallery : "May Close without warning"

Related posts

The Mother Art is Architecture

Eaten by Robots

The Last of the Hungry Mile

"May close without warning" My Solo Exhibition at the Frances Keevil Gallery

A Sneak preview of some of the paintings

in my new solo exhibition

at the Frances Keevil Gallery

11 - 30 OCTOBER 2011
To be opened by Dr Jack Mundey AO
Tuesday 11 October, 6 - 8pm
Bay Village, 28 - 34 Cross Street Double Bay NSW 2028
ph: 02 9327 2475
Gallery hours: Mon to Fri: 10-5 Sat: 10-4 Sun: 11-4

My new exhibition at the Frances Keevil Gallery, is about the transience of the built environment. Many of the paintings were inspired by the now demolished Cruise Ship Terminal at the South end of Barangaroo.

"Wharf Skeleton" 2008 charcoal on paper 76 x 110cm
WINNER: 2008 DRAWING PRIZE ROYAL EASTER SHOW
Enquiries about this painting

"Miller's Point from the top of the Sydney Harbour Control Tower"

charcoal, ink, gouache on paper 121 x 134cm

SOLD
Enquiries about this painting
A large, complex and vertigo inducing drawing, "Miller's Point from the top of the Sydney Harbour Control Tower", tested my draughtsmanship and perspective skills to the utmost.

'"May open without warning"'

2010 oil on canvas 51 x 76 cm

Enquiries about this painting

"May open without warning" is the cryptic inscription on the floor of the entrance to the loading dock and is the first painting in this series.

"May Close Without Warning",

Wharf 8, Barangaroo

oil on canvas 51 x 76cm

Enquiries about this painting

"May close without warning" , the second painting in this series, painted from deeper inside the building, derives its title from the warning signs on the fire doors inside Wharf 8. The empty chair was a haunting symbol of the loss of power and authority as the surrounding area is in a state of flux.

"I saw the number "8" in red" oil on canvas 61 x 183cm

Enquiries about other paintings of Barangaroo
SOLD

 

"I saw the number "8" in red" was painted in the Arrivals Hall. Apart from commemorating the startlingly weird giant number "8", the title of this painting is also my homage to the 1928 Charles Demuth painting "I saw the number 5 in gold..", an icon of American Modernism.

"Your days are numbered" 2010
oil painting on canvas 61 x 91cm
Enquiries about other paintings of Barangaroo
SOLD
"Your days are numbered" shows the Arrivals Hall from a different angle.

'Red Square' oil on canvas 36 x 36cm
SOLD
Enquiries about similar paintings

'Red Square (Strange Customs)'

oil on canvas 61 x 183cm

Enquiries about this painting

'Red Square' shows the eerily empty Departures Hall with the strange bright red box at the end of the Hall, which marked where the passengers would leave the hall for the gantry. The large canvas was intended as the counterpart to "I saw the number "8" in red", which is the same size and format.

"Your days are numbered - Eight (ate)"

2010 oil painting on canvas 31 x 25 cm

SOLD
Enquiries about similar paintings

"Your days are numbered - Eight (ate)" was painted after the demolition of the main building of Wharf 8.

The lonely numeral remained as a vestige of the former wharf for a few weeks afterwards.

"The 'Hungry Mile' " 2007 oil on canvas 91 x 122cm
Enquiries about this painting

"The 'Hungry Mile' ", "The empty wharf" and the "Gathering Storm" are three large canvases of the same size and format painted from a similar vantage point, several years apart to show the contrast between past and present. They are like a time lapse sequence showing the transition of the 'Hungry Mile' from a working port into the construction site of Barangaroo.
"The 'Hungry Mile' ", the first of the series, is the working port in its last operational year, 2007.

"The empty wharf" 2008

oil on canvas 91 x 122cm

Enquiries about this painting

"The empty wharf" I started painted this work the day after the stevedores left in mid October 2007 and completed it just before Cardinal began to demolish the wharf buildings at the start of 2008.

 

"The Gathering Storm" -

my unfinished plein air painting at Barangaroo,

91 x 122cm

Enquiries about this painting

I don't normally like showing half finished work, but I couldn't resist this. "The Gathering Storm" looks as though a piece of the sky has actually fallen down onto the waiting canvas.

"The Gathering Storm over Barangaroo"

2011 oil on canvas 91 x 122cm

Enquiries about this painting

I am primarily a plein air painter, and I want to rescue this genre from being relegated to the category of the "Sunday" painter.

To paint a series of large, ambitious and complex canvases "en plein air" on demolition sites and operational wharves, usually in a howling gale, could be classed as an extreme sport.

It needs physical strength, determination and a touch of insanity as well.

All of these paintings, and more will be available for sale

at the Frances Keevil Gallery from Tuesday 11th October 2011.

Enquiries info@franceskeevilgallery.com.au

Related Posts

There goes the neighbourhood

Banners, Millers Point

Eaten by robots

Barangaroo - Tabula Rasa

The Last of the Hungry Mile

Tie a yellow ribbon