"May close without warning" My solo exhibition at the Frances Keevil Gallery : Part 3- Meet the artist

May close without warning" will soon close!

On Saturday 29th October 2011 from 2-4pm, I'm giving an artist's talk about how and why I created this series of paintings

Please join us this Saturday 29th October, 2011

from 2 - 4pm, to meet JANE BENNETT

MW2 'Cleaning the boom in front of the 'Shirley Smith'

2011 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm

Available for sale
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MW1 'Cleaning the boom in front of the 'Shirley Smith'
2011 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Available for sale

Enquiries about this painting

BAR8 'I saw the number 8 in red'
2010 oil on canvas 61 x 183cm
SOLD
Enquiries about this painting

BAR7 'Red Square (Strange Customs)'
2010 oil on canvas 61 x 183cm
Available for sale
Enquiries about this painting

Related posts

May close without warning - Part 2 : "All that is solid melts into air"

Pyrmont : Shadows of the past

"May close without warning" Solo Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery

View from the ivory tower (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

Cut off (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

Transmogrify (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

My Paintings in the Xmas exhibition,  Frances Keevil Gallery (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

Ghost ship - ex-HMAS Adelaide at Glebe - Part 2

HMAS Adelaide was decommissioned in 2008 and prepared for scuttling as a dive wreck during late 2009 and early 2010.
Her mast was removed, dangerous materials and toxins were removed, and access holes were cut in the ship's flanks.
She was originally intended to be sunk on 27 March 2010, 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) offshore from Avoca Beach, in 32 metres (105 ft) of water.

"The ex-HMAS Adelaide on Glebe Island wharf" 2010
oil on canvas 30 x 61 cm
Sold
By late 2009 the Baulderstone group had left the northern end of Glebe Island, leaving it clear for the ex- HMAS Adelaide.
At the southern end, the 'Thor Kis' arrived with cable which would later be laid under Port Botany.
McMahons Services started preparing the ex-HMAS Adelaide for scuttling, which was then earmarked for March 27th 2010.

'Salt Truck at Glebe, with the 'Thevenard'

2010 oil on canvas

15 x 30cm
Sold
I painted some other interesting visitors to the wharf.
In this painting you can see the ex- HMAS Adelaide lurking in the background behind a giant mound of salt being poured on the wharf from the salt ship 'CSL Thevenard'. This salt was then loaded into trucks and driven down to chemical plants at Port Botany.

Painting the 'Adelaide' on the wharf
Available

Painting the 'Adelaide' on the wharf
Available 
These 2 photos show me at work on the painting shown below. This large canvas, 61 x 183cm, really pushed the boundaries of what is physically possible in plein air painting.
When it became windy I would have to lie the canvas flat on the ground, or I would end up chasing it and my easel all over the wharf.

My easel and palette - gone with the wind !

Painting Ex-HMAS Adelaide at

Glebe Island wharf en plein air

Ex-HMAS Adelaide at Glebe Island wharf -

plein air oil painting

2011 oil on canvas 61 x 183cm
Available


"The ex-HMAS Adelaide on Glebe Island wharf"
2011 oil on canvas 61 x 183 cm
Available 
On the right hand side of this painting is the OES Barge. This finally left Glebe Island wharf for White Bay in June 2010, 1 day before leaving Sydney Harbour to lay cables under Botany Bay.
I had rushed to complete this, as some of the people on the wharf were quite interested in acquiring a work. I needn't have hurried, as a literally last minute decision pulled the plug on the scuttling.
Over a year of apparently interminable rolling legal action ensued before the end of the saga.
An appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by a local and vocal
protest group 3 days before the sinking saw the project placed on hold until the case can be heard in full.
The case was originally to have been heard on 5 May, but was then postponed to July.
Finally the federal judge, Justice Garry Downes, president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, approved the project but imposed stringent new conditions.
His decision ended a legal battle which had lasted almost six months. On 15 September, the Tribunal ruled that the scuttling of the ship could go ahead after the removal of any remaining wiring, canvas, insulation, and exfoliating red lead paint.
The delays caused by the tribunal hearing meant that instead of costing the original $5.8 million assigned to the scuttling project, the tribunal hearing, additional cleanup, and berthing fees brought the total cost to $8.5 million.
The ship was still there, looking a little forlorn until the dawn of April 11th when it embarked on its final triumphant journey to its final resting spot off North Avoca.

"Ex HMAS Adelaide departing Glebe Island at dawn"

2011 oil on canvas 112 x 183cm

Available 
Her last journey, accompanied by the 'Woona'. The other tug was hidden by the bulk of the ship.
I met up with her again in Terrigal, a couple of days before the sinking and painted her last moments before her new life as an artificial reef.
There was a dramatic viewpoint of her from a rocky cove beneath the imposing "Skillion".

'Ex HMAS Adelaide from the 'Skillion' at sunset '2011
oil on canvas 15 x 30cm sold
PRIVATE COLLECTION : TERRIGAL

"Ex HMAS Adelaide from the 'Skillion' the next morning"
2011 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Available
I also painted her from a lookout next to the surf club at North Avoca Beach.

"Ex HMAS Adelaide from North Avoca" 2011
oil on canvas 31 x 61cm
Available 

Painting "Ex HMAS Adelaide from North Avoca" 2011
oil on canvas 31 x 61cm
Available
Ex HMAS Adelaide was finally successfully sunk at midday on Wednesday April 13th. As if all the previous nail biting suspense hadn't been enough, there was over an hour long wait for an inquisitive pod of dolphins to move out of the area.
I watched and sketched its final moments above water barely 300 metres away from Andrew MacMahon's huge white boat "Strictly Business, which you can see in the distance in the painting below.
The next day I painted the same spot where the ship had been from the same vantage point next to the Skillion.


Painting the Adelaide from North Avoca 13th April 2011

''Strictly Business' from the 'Skillion' Terrigal

(Adelaide underwater) '

oil on canvas 31 x 61cm
Available 
For a long time it had seemed as though the ship would remain in limbo.
All the drama was worth it in the end.
It has succeeded as an artificial reef beyond the wildest dreams of its creators.
Recently I was painting a commission at Chowder Bay, Clifton Gardens, which is the headquarters of SIMS, the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science. The marine scientists raved for hours about the wonderful diversity and abundance of marine species newly inhabiting the artificial reef.

Related Posts

Ghost ship - ex-HMAS Adelaide at Glebe - Part 1

Ship to Shore - Australian Marine Artists Society exhibition at Mosman Art Gallery

Beyond the Sea

Two Ships in dock

Tugs, barges and tall ships

From the Tampa to Strictly Ballroom

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

Tugs, barges and Tall ships - Glebe Island, Jackson's Landing and White Bay

'The tug 'Edi' and the OES barge at Glebe Island wharf'
 2010 oil painting on canvas 31 x 41cm
SOLD
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This tug escorted the OES barge to White Bay and then to Port Botany, where it is laying cables.

This canvas was painted at Glebe Island wharf, opposite LendLease's Jackson's Landing Development. In the background the yellow column of one of their apartment blocks pokes up like an impudent finger. There is an equally lairy lime green apartment block further down the road to match - their not entirely endearing local nicknames are the 'Lemon' and the 'Gherkin' respectively. Jackson's Landing was built on the site of the CSR Refinery and Distillery, which had operated on the north-western end of the Pyrmont Peninsula for over a century. A relic of these times, known as the 'Cooperage' can be seen directly in front of its fluorescent new neighbour.

'The OES Barge with the tug 'Edi' at Glebe Island from the park at Jacksons Landing, Pyrmont''
oil painting on canvas 25 x 31 cm
SOLD
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The view from across the ditch.
This evening study of the barge and tug is painted from the park in front of the 'Cooperage' at Jackson's Landing.

'Dawn -The tug 'Edi' at Glebe Island wharf '
2010 oil painting on canvas 25 x 51cm
SOLD
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Sunrise, with the tug docked in front of the Anzac Bridge. 

The grey apartment block in front of its eastern pylon, catching reflections of the rose pink dawn clouds, is the strangely named 'evolve' building. I hate buildings with verbs for names - especially in the imperative case. It sounds like a command - both patronising and presumptuous. 'Into what?' is the unspoken question.
The crew of the tug and the barge are making preparations for the departure to White Bay, and then, just as the song goes, they are bound for Botany Bay.

G45 'The tug 'Edi' with the 'Southern Swan' at White Bay'

2010 oil on canvas 31 x 25cm

SOLD
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This was painted at the Ausbarge Wharf facility at Berth 2 White Bay, Roberts Street, Rozelle.
The tall ship 'The Southern Swan' (formerly the 'Svanen') is docked behind the Ausbarge tug 'Edi'. This tall ship, built in Oslo 1916 is a schooner (rig: triple masted gaff) used for educational sail-training.
Ausbarge's other tugs include the 'Warren', the 'Taralga', the 'Coramba', the 'Morpeth', the 'Bega', the 'Temora', the 'Marrakai' and the 'Mudgee' in roughly descending order from largest to smallest.

'The tugs 'Edi' and 'Morpeth' at White Bay wharf'    

2010 oil on canvas 25 x 31cm
SOLD

Enquiries about similar paintings

The 'Morpeth', much smaller than the 'Edi' is not quite the runt of the litter. She just looks dwarfed by the 'Edi' in comparison. She is a steel built twin screw tug with a 7 tonne bollard pull and a LOA 15.8m Draft 2.38m.
At the moment, White Bay is a sleepy little nook of Sydney Harbour, filled with little tugs, garbage barges, boats refuelling etc. All the flotsam and jetsam of the remnants of Sydney's working harbour.
But this will change - and soon.
Soon White Bay will be redeveloped extensively. The cruise ship terminal, now temporarily located at a marquee at Barangaroo's Wharf 5, will be permanently relocated to White Bay to make way for the Barangaroo redevelopment.
Plans for the new terminal are awaiting approval from the NSW Planning Department.
Construction is expected to start soon, with completion due in 2012. So watch this space!

 

Related posts

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

 
Barangaroo : 'Maersk Gateshead' -The Last Container Ship (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

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

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,

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' 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,

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'.  

See From the Tampa to Strictly Ballroom

'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 '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 '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 '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.

Portrait of the artist at work
Available 


'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

From the Tampa to Strictly Ballroom

Ghost ship Part 1

Ghost Ship Part 2

Ship to Shore - Australian Marine Artists Society exhibition at Mosman Art Gallery

Marine Art Exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum

 Australian National Maritime Museum

I will be exhibiting these paintings at the  Australian Society of Marine Artists exhibition at the "Wooden Boat Festival"
WHEN: From 10 am - 4pm Saturday 16th October and Sunday 17th October 2010
WHERE: at the Australian National Maritime Museum
EVENT: Wooden Boat Festival
These are some of the paintings which I will be exhibiting on the October 16-17 weekend with the Australian Society of Marine Artists exhibition at the "Wooden Boat Festival"
The Australian Society of Marine Artists are a group of artists and others interested in marine and maritime art : painters, lithographers and printmakers, sculptors, model-makers and historians. Every painting style from traditional to contemporary, realist to abstract is represented : ships, seascapes, maritime history and heritage.

'The 'Spirit of Tasmania' departs for the last time

from Darling Harbour' 2006

oil painting on canvas 25 x 31 cm

Sold
This painting is of a landmark in the history of Sydney Harbour - the final departure of the 'Spirit of Tasmania 3" from the East Darling Harbour Wharves in October 2006.
The 'Spirit of Tasmania 3" , (nicknamed 'Spot' by all the wharfies) was later sold to an overseas shipping line and I have heard that she has been renamed and is in use as a ferry in the North Sea.
The 'Spirit of Tasmania" numbers 1 and 2, are still in Australian waters, but their journeys are between Melbourne and Devonport. Occasionally they come to Garden Island, Sydney Harbour dry dock for repairs and maintenance.

The Sydney Heritage Fleet's tall ship, the 'James Craig' and Wharf 7, Pyrmont can be seen in the background.

The last journey of the 'Spirit of Tasmania 3'
It was an atmosphere reminiscent of the last day of school. People running around taking photos and swapping addresses. Manic excitement, regret, and a strange undercurrent of foreboding about what the future may bring.
To add to the sense of occasion was a touch of glamour. Added to the usual queue of cars and bikes waiting in the sun was a line of lovingly restored vintage cars, bound for a rally in Tasmania. In one of the many paintings that I started that day, I featured a green Rover and its patient driver in the foreground. I certainly had enough time to paint them as they were sitting in the queue from 9.30am to 2.30pm when they were finally allowed to drive on board. The Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, later acquired this canvas.
Everything that wasn't nailed down was hauled off and dragged on board. I mean 'Everything that wasn't nailed down' absolutely literally and not as a lazy cliche. I had been storing some canvases and easels in a little shed and suddenly had to leap up from my wet painting and rescue them from making an unscheduled visit to Tasmania. I nearly lost my cup of coffee which I had left perched on a concrete barrier when forklifts started to load all of the concrete onto the ship.

"'Endeavour ' Tall ship race -Australia Day"
oil painting on canvas 20 x 25cm

Available  

A close up of the 'HMB Endeavour', one of the 'Tall Ships' making its way back to its mooring after the Tall Ships Parade on Australia Day 2007.

This was painted from the East Darling Harbour Wharves (now called Barangaroo) while the area was still a working port.

'The Tug 'Karoo' 2006

oil painting on canvas 28 x 36 cm

Available

For more information see My Pyrmont page in this blog

Related posts

Looking over the overlooked-Urban decay in Pyrmont
To the Point
Wrong side of the tracks - Darling Island Bond and Free

Pretty vacant

A Tale of two hotels - the Terminus and the Point

Pyrmont Paintings past and present My Exhibition in the Australian National Maritime Museum
Paintings of Pink pubs - Painting the Jolly Frog Part 2 

My exhibition at the 2010 Sydney Open

Beyond the Sea

2012 Classic and Wooden Boat Show at the Australian National Maritime Museum