Barangaroo : Red Square

Barangaroo: Painting inside the former cruise ship terminal

"Red Square" unfinished oil painting on canvas 41 x 91cm

A work in progress, still on the easel.

 'Red Square' oil painting on canvas 41 x 91cm

This canvas is still a little unfinished, but you can get the general idea of what I'm attempting to do here. It's an interior versus exterior painting, playing with light, transparency and reflections. Unlike the other doors in the loading dock, which are solid slabs of brilliant scarlet, these are translucent fluted sheets that both reveal and conceal the view. 

The "Red square" to the left was the bright scarlet entrance to the passenger walkways allowing access to the cruise ship.
In 20th century art history a famous quote about early abstract art was "The red square is haunting painting", about an oil painting by Kasimir Malevich, one of the originators of the Russian Suprematism movement in abstract painting. The red square has certainly haunted this building! It reminds me how quickly the 'new' and 'modern' passes into history. It is ironic how "Modernism" is now a historic term referring to the art of 50-80 years ago, and the architect of this former wharf has either deliberately or unknowingly raided its vocabulary!

In the background are the two drill rigs of the geophysics team, Coffey and Macquarie Drilling.

For an update on what happened to this canvas, see my post at this blog:'Brilliantly renovated and cut in half'

Barangaroo : May close without warning

Barangaroo : Paintings of the former cruise ship terminal at Wharf 8 

Unfinished oil paintings on canvas, all are 61 x 91 cm
Subject : the interior of the loading dock of the deserted former cruise ship terminal at Darling Harbour Wharf 8.

Poignant reminders of the site's previous function create ironic, even surrealist undertones. This building will be demolished in late August 2010. It had only been opened in July 1999, for the expected influx of cruise ships for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. I remember it being built - in fact I remember its predecessor being built to replace another wharf!

This painting shows the entrance to the loading dock, normally off limits to the public. The door is open to the view north towards the Sydney Harbour Control Tower on the right and the new temporary cruise ship facilities in the marquee to the left.

"Inside the loading dock of the former Cruise ship Terminal at Darling Harbour 8" unfinished oil painting on canvas 61 x 91cm

After 2nd day of painting- only needs finishing touches on masonry and shadows.

I'll have to take this home to do the final flourishes as Cardinal has just parked 3 large excavators right in front of me just as I was about to complete this! I musn't get dust on it when I'm putting on layers of glazes or I'll spend the next fortnight plucking the bits of gravel, pigeon feathers etc off the surface with a pair of tweezers!
Painted from a similar viewpoint as "May close without warning..."

The completed painting: "Inside the loading dock of the former Cruise ship Terminal at Darling Harbour 8" oil painting on canvas 61 x 91cm

"MAY CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING " unfinished oil painting on canvas 61 x 91cm

Day 1 of this painting

The completed painting "MAY CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING "
oil painting on canvas 61 x 91cm

I found the office chair sitting in the middle of the deserted loading dock.

The title "May close without warning" refers to the warnings found on the portal of the fire doors framing the central image.

While I was painting, the electricity and the water was yet to be turned off, and every half hour or so the automatic fire door would grumble a bit and roll forward and back several inches. It was eerie as the building was mostly empty and all the workmen were outside- talk about the 'Ghost in the machine'!
Through the doorway is the Sydney Harbour Control Tower and the marquee used for the temporary cruise ship facilities by Sydney Ports Corporation. The title of this painting could double as my motto! "May close without warning" says it all.
I never need to make jokes - the truth is quite adequately hilarious.

Barangaroo : 'Maersk Gateshead' -The Last Container Ship

Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead'  from the wharf at Barangaroo
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Barangaroo : Painting the Last Container Ship June 2010

This was the last container ship ever to enter Sydney Harbour. I was permitted to paint this ship, not only from the wharf, but from the bridge of the ship, courtesy of the Captain, Mark Carter.

On my easel is the completed oil painting of the 'Maersk Gateshead' which I sold to the Captain.

Enquiries about similar paintings

janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead'  from the wharf at Barangaroo

Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

 DH255 'Early morning, the Maersk Gateshead at Barangaroo'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 61cm

$2,000
Enquiries about this painting

janecooperbennett@gmail.com

DH257 'The Maersk Gateshead, preparing to depart Barangaroo'
 2010 oil on canvas 40 x 120cm

$5,000
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead'  from the bridge of the ship at Barangaroo. 
An unfinished oil painting of the panorama stretching from Pyrmont and White Bay to Balmain 25 x 152cm

Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

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.
Unfinished Oil painting on canvas 38 x 76cm

Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I spent 4 days painting from different vantage points on the ship, knowing that I was witness to the end of an era.

 DH256 'The 'Pacific Jewel at wharf 7 from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 38 x 76cm

$3,300
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

An unplanned visit

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 Barangaroo.
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. 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, which is 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. 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.

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. 

"Night, 'Pacific Jewel'  from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead" 2010 
oil painting on canvas 61 x 91 cm
 $6,600 
Enquiries about this painting
janecooperbennett@gmail.com

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

View article about the 'Maersk Gateshead's' stay at Barangaroo

Maersk Alabama entered pirate infested waters

Maersk vessel attacked by pirates 

• ---

• Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo
• Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo Part 2
• Painting the Icebreaker "Polar Star"
• 'From the Hungry Mile to Barangaroo'

• Barangaroo : A big white ship at a big white tent (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)
• Art exhibition : Recent Paintings by Jane Bennett (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

Barangaroo :The 'Pill'

Barangaroo: the Sydney Harbour Control Tower 

Behind the fence- Beware of the artist!

The setting sun bathes the sandstone escarpment and Sydney Harbour Control Tower in a warm golden glow.

Art versus life

My canvas is sitting on top of my trolley luggage, which contains my essential equipment. My paints, my brushes, my palette, my easel, my toilet paper and my lunch. It's a long walk back and the French box easel weighs over 10 kilos with the paint inside. All French box easels have annoying design flaws. With this one the easel legs have an alarming tendency to detach and whack me on the back of shins whenever I least expect it. Although I can always count on them doing so when I'm climbing scaffolding or trying to pack up quickly to get out of the rain. Shoving it inside the trolley luggage was the best compromise I could come up with.

This is the unfinished painting sitting on top of my trolley luggage after a hard day's painting:

"Barangaroo Headland :
Sydney Harbour Control Tower, the escarpment and the Sydney Harbour Bridge "
2010  oil painting on canvas 31 x 61 cm
$2,000

Enquiries about this painting :
janecooperbennett@gmail.com  

On the far left is a Federation era heritage sewage pumping station. Slightly behind this is the handsome sandstone Moore's Wharf building and the roof of a Walsh Bay Wharf pier. The charming terraces of Merriman St in Miller's PointSydney Harbour Control Tower.  perch on the sandstone escarpment, which is neatly bisected by the mushroom head of the Sydney Harbour Control Tower.

Painting the Harbour Control Tower at Barangaroo
"Barangaroo Headland :Sydney Harbour Control Tower and the escarpment" 2010
oil painting on canvas 61 x 61 cm 
$4,200
Enquiries about this painting :
janecooperbennett@gmail.com  

While I was painting this, the radio station Nova was holding some kind of promotional event, on the knuckle of the northern end of Barangaroo. It was a bit distracting and I felt a bit nervous leaving all of my things lying around at the mercy of the crowd whenever I had to have a loo break. But they had set up a pop-up coffee bar in the middle of the wharf, so I'm everlastingly grateful to them as I love my coffee and never usually get a chance to drink any while I'm painting - it tends to go sour in a thermos and milk turns to yoghurt in the sun.
This is a close up of the painting I started that morning:

"Barangaroo Headland :Sydney Harbour Control Tower and the escarpment" 2010
oil painting on canvas 61 x 61 cm 
$4,200
Enquiries about this painting :
janecooperbennett@gmail.com  

The concrete mushroom head of the Sydney Harbour Control Tower looms above me as I sit in its shadow.

The Harbour Control Tower has been a Sydney Harbour icon since it was built in 1972. It is sometimes known as the 'Pill' - because it controls the berths (bad wharfie joke) It boasts a 'loo with a view'- the toilet in the amenities section of the upper storey has a 270 degree view stretching from the Rocks in the east to Balmain in the west.
The Harbour Control Tower will still be used by Sydney Ports Corporation until their room in their spiffy new purple and silver headquarters at Port Botany has been fitted out. As far as I know this will happen in April 2011.
I don't know whether there will be a role for the Harbour Control Tower in the new plans for Barangaroo. It has a fabulous 360 degree view of Sydney Harbour - there is really nowhere else to be in Sydney on New Year's Eve to see the fireworks. When they are set off from the rooftops of the CBD buildings you are almost directly above them. I have spent 4 out of the past 6 New Year's Eve celebrations painting the fireworks and the tall ship's pageant from the eye in the sky.
I still have one of my easels stored on the amenities floor. I'd better go up there and paint soon or they will throw it away.
I hope that it isn't pulled down. I'd miss it.
See more of my paintings at my blog "Industrial Revelation" 

Related articles

• Another one bites the dust

• Something old-Something New- Some paintings at Barangaroo (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)
• Painting Miller's Point from the top of Harbour Control Tower New Year's Eve 2010- Part 4:Through a glass darkly (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)

Barangaroo : A big white ship at a big white tent

Barangaroo : Paintings of the Pacific Jewel  at the temporary cruise ship terminal

"The Pacific Jewel arrives at Barangaroo" 2010 

oil painting on canvas 36 x 46 cm

 $1,800  

Enquiries about this painting

janecooperbennett@gmail.com

The first cruise ship to use the temporary facilities at Barangaroo was the 'Pacific Jewel', coincidentally the last cruise ship to dock at the old terminal, at Darling Harbour Wharf 8.

 I painted this and several other canvases on the wharf itself. I had to go through the X ray with all of my painting gear. I forgot and left my palette knife in my trolley luggage, so I had a bit of explaining to do!

"The 'Pacific Jewel ' at the new temporary facility at Darling Harbour"

Diptych- 2010 oil painting on canvas 25 x 51 cm each

Total image size 25 x 102cm 

$1,400 each $2,800 diptych

Enquiries about this painting

janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I made the most of my unprecedented access to areas usually forbidden to the public to paint the hidden side of the cruise ship experience- from the viewpoint of those who make it possible.

This pair of canvases contrasts the public and glamorous view of the cruise  ship  with the hidden and under-appreciated side of the people who make other people's leisure possible - security guards, aides, the ship's crew. 
Outside the marquee, the enormous white ship's prow juts out towards Pyrmont. Inside, the guards and crew wait for the onslaught of the crowd of passengers. 
The World of Leisure versus the World of Work - as an artist, I have a foot placed in each as I seek to make a profession out of what other people do for a hobby.
This is only a stop gap solution to the problem of where to put the cruise ships. 
Soon the White Bay sheds will be demolished and replaced by the new cruise ship terminal, which will be built in about 2 years. 
The Pyrmont wharves and the beige towers of  Star City Casino are visible in the background to the left behind the tangle of ropes. I spent a great deal of my time between about 1982 - 1996 painting all over Pyrmont, you can see more details at my Pyrmont page in this blog or my Pyrmont page at my other blog "Industrial Revelation".

Related posts

• Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo

• "May close without warning" My Solo Exhibition at the Frances Keevil Gallery (janebennettartist.blogspot.com)
• Painting the Tugboats of Sydney Harbour - the 'Wilga', 'Wonga' 'Woona' and 'Watagan' (janebennettartist.blogspot.com)
• Sitzkrieg (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)
• Cut off (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)
• View from the ivory tower (barangarooartist.blogspot.com)
• The White Shed at White Bay (janebennettartist.blogspot.com)

Related articles

• View article in Sydney Morning Herald : "Barangaroo ideal for cruiseships..."
• Call to scrutinise Barangaroo deal (smh.com.au)