Jane Bennett is an artist focused on Sydney's industrial and maritime heritage, painting the transformation of the city from the early 1980s to present. Her works capture the essence of locations before their demolition or gentrification, showcasing the evolving landscape through detailed observations on-site. The extensive collection includes over 500 paintings, highlighting themes of decay and reconstruction while documenting a significant period in Sydney's history.

1. Jane Bennett Artist Industrial & Maritime Heritage Frances Keevil Galleries Bay Village 28-34 Cross St Double Bay NSW 2028 Tel: 61 + 2 9327 2475 [email_address] www.franceskeevilart.com.au/Jane_Bennett.htm From the ‘Hungry Mile’ To Barangaroo

2. BEFORE & AFTER THE HUNGRY MILE 2007 BARANGAROO 2008 DH166 “The yard from the office” oil on canvas 100 x 122cm 2007 DH179 “The empty wharf from shed 5“ oil on canvas 100 x 122cm 2008

3. Painting Sydney's Industrial Heritage I began to paint & draw Sydney 's industrial & maritime heritage in the early 1980's. Almost everything that I have painted has either been demolished or changed beyond all recognition. The pubs have been gentrified, the woolstores have been converted into apartments, & formerly gritty industrial areas have been transformed into entertainment venues. www.franceskeevilart.com.au/Jane_Bennett.htm www.onehundred.sl.nsw.gov.au/100-objects/Exhibit-095.aspx www.artfiles.com.au/janebennett

4. Unlike many artists I usually work on site to capture the elusive spirit of place. I set up my easel by the side of the road, on windswept rooftops & on demolition sites. Unpredictable weather, constantly changing light, distractions from workman & passers-by – are more than compensated for by the depth of knowledge I have gained about the hidden gems of Sydney. I see Sydney in all its moods, from the pearly calm of early morning, the brilliant cobalt sea and sky of a warm summer’s day, to dramatic storms & the jewel-like city skyline at night.

5. P103 “Building Star City Casino”1994 oil on canvas 92 x 122 cm The bright red ship in the background was the soon to be notorious ‘Tampa’, one of the numerous Wallenius Wilhelmsen fleet of Ro-ros. (Then it was owned by Barber Blue Sea.) Between1985 – 1996 I painted the East Darling Harbour Wharves from vantage points around the Sydney Harbour Foreshore. These next 3 works were painted in Pyrmont, from the roof of the Pyrmont Power Station (now replaced by the Star City Casino)

6. “ Casino Site from the top of Pyrmont Power Station” 1996 oil on board 40x89cm

7. ” Casino Site from the top of Pyrmont Power Station” 1996 oil on board 40 x 89cm The long narrow building on the left, Pier 13, was once connected to Jones Bay Road by a land bridge. Then Pier 13 became the temporary casino, painted a hideous shade of bright yellow & the land bridge was demolished. Jones Bay Road has since been renamed Pirrama Road & now a leads to the steps of Star City Casino. The brilliantly coloured ships in the background are painted to scale; they were so immense that they towered over the buildings.

8. “ Star City Casino site 2”1996 oil on canvas 122 x 180 cm

9. "Star City Casino site 2" 1996 oil on canvas 122 x 180 cm This birds-eye view of construction gives an idea of the grand scale of the project. At that stage, despite being partially demolished, the remaining section of the Pyrmont Power Station was still fully operational & still provided most of the electricity for the western side of the C.B.D. This was one of the last paintings I completed from the roof of the Pyrmont Power Station, hence its monumental scale. In 1996 I won the prestigious Marten Bequest Travelling Art Scholarship & made several journeys to Europe & the U.S.A. over the next 2 years.

10. GT6A The 'Emergency Response' boats moored at Goat Island 1992 oil on canvas 31 x 41 cm Painted from Ball’s Head on the North Shore. The blue ship in the background is probably either the ‘Caledonie Express’ or the ‘Forum Samoa’.

11. U87 “Evening, Sydney Harbour Bridge from Port Jackson Towers” 2004 oil on canvas 91x168cm The Port Jackson Towers, above North Sydney Olympic Pool, provided a vantage point for a panorama of the entire harbour. I included this painting to show the area in context with the geography of Sydney.

12. W27 “Walsh Bay Wharves 6,7,8,9” 1999 oil on canvas 122 x 152cm The Emergency response boats of Sydney Ports Corporation docked at Moore’s Wharf & shed 3 are in the background of Pier 8/9 (later home of Murdoch Magazines & Patrick Corporation) & Pier 6/7 (later demolished) of Walsh Bay Wharves.

13. O16 East Darling Harbour from Observatory Hill 2000 pastel on paper 56x76cm One of the Wallenius ships & the L2 crane from the western side of Observatory Hill.

14. Artist in Residence at East Darling Harbour Wharves I have painted many aspects of Miller's Point & the East Darling Harbour Wharves over the last 20 years, but as soon as I became aware of the developments in store for this precinct, I became Artist in Residence on the wharf itself, painting a comprehensive overview of all the stevedoring activities. I painted this series of works, not out of nostalgia but as part of a greater historical narrative, to show the transition of Sydney into the be exhibiting space! post-industrial era in visual terms. I then continued to paint the demolition of the sheds & the preparations for World Youth Day, as well as a bird's eye view of the World Youth Day festivities from the vantage point of the control room in the Sydney Harbour Control Tower. Many of these works won major art prizes & have been displayed in prestigious exhibitions. This is only a small selection of the over 500 paintings I have completed of this fascinating area. Although I have sold some of these paintings I have kept a core group of the most significant ones for the future. .

15. “ Caledonie Express” 2005 oil on canvas 15 x 30 cm PRIVATE COLLECTION : SYDNEY

16. DH2A-D “The ‘Pauwgracht’, evening clouds “2005 Polyptych oil on canvas 51x25cm each canvas (total size 51 x 102cm)

17. “ The ‘Pauwgracht’” Diptych 2005 oil on canvas 51 x 25cm each canvas (total size 51 x 51cm) PRIVATE COLLECTION : BRISBANE

18. These are a few of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen fleet of Ro-ros (roll-on, roll-off) or car ships. The Wallenius (originally a Swedish company)ships were green & named after operas. The Wilhelmsen (originally from Norway) ships were vermilion & all their names started with the letter “T”. Each ship was subtly different, but there were 4 basic types, Marks I – IV & within each Mark, groups of 3 or so similar sister ships. The ‘Taiko’ & the ‘Tampa’ for example, were sister ships. Each ship would return to Port Jackson after a period of about 110 days. WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN

19. DH11 “'The Madame Butterfly‘” 2005 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

20. DH8A-C “The ‘Takara’ Triptych” 2005 oil on canvas 41x 31cm each

21. DH9 “The Tamerlane after rain” 2005 oil on canvas 75x100cm

22. DH55 “The 'Tampere' “ 2006 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm COLLECTION: THE MITCHELL LIBRARY, STATE LIBRARY OF NSW

23. DH134 'Capitaine Tasman' & 'Caledonie Express' at night 2007 oil on canvas 31 x 103cm Watching the reflections of the jewel-like lights on the water, I was inspired to paint a series of nocturnes. The city glitters against Sydney’s inky night sky.

24. DH98 “2 Cranes- L2 & L3” 2006 oil on canvas 41 x 51cm THE THREE RED CRANES AT DARLING HARBOUR

25. DH25 “L2 Crane with Stormclouds” 2005 oil on canvas 51.5 x 25.5cm

26. DH109 “ L2 Crane with spreader” 2007 oil on canvas 41 x 31 cm

27. DH56 “The L3 Crane, with the 'Taiko' & containers “ 2006 oil on canvas 51.5 x 25.5cm

28. DH30 “The Dangling Boat” 2005 oil on canvas 91 x 46 cm

29. DH137 The L1 Crane 2007 oil on canvas 46 x 36cm

30. DH135A & B Maintaining the Crane (Diptych) 2007 oil on canvas 51 x 25cm each canvas (total size 51 x 51 cm)

31. DH33A-B “From the Bridge of the 'Taiko' Diptych'' 2006 oil on board 20 x 40cm each (total size 20 x 80 cm) PAINTINGS FROM THE BRIDGE OF A SHIP

32. DH212C “The Last call of the ‘Tampa’ ” 2007 oil on canvas 102 x 76cm PAINTINGS FROM THE BRIDGE OF A SHIP DH212E Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Bridge of the ‘Tampa ‘2007 oil on canvas 102 x 41cm DH212D “North Sydney from the Bridge of the ‘Tampa’” 2007 oil on canvas 122 x 51cm

33. DH53A-B “Miller's point from the Bridge of the 'Talabot' Diptych” 2006 oil on canvas 31 x 61cm each canvas (total size 31 x 122cm) PAINTINGS FROM THE BRIDGE OF A SHIP

34. DH23 “Forklift & container, ‘Capitaine Tasman’ “ 2005 oil on canvas 40 x 30cm STEVEDORES WORKING THE SHIPS

35. DH61 “The old forklift” 2006 oil on canvas 25 x 30cm

36. DH69 “Lifting container 'Oceania Chief' “ 2006 oil on canvas 25 x 20cm

37. DH154A-B “Hooking up a case Diptych” 2007 oil on canvas 30 x 15cm each (total size 30 x 30 cm)

38. DH139 “The 'Southern Cross' (with Robbie & forklift) “ 2007 oil on canvas 31 x 92cm

39. DH83 “Spirit of Tasmania 3 with linesmen” 2006 oil on canvas 38 x 76cm ‘ THE SPIRIT OF TASMANIA’ AT DARLING HARBOUR The Mitchell Library, State Library of N.S.W, has acquired a painting from this series .

40. DH94 “Spirit of Tasmania 3-Linesman dragging rope” 2006 oil on canvas 25 x 25cm

41. DH89 “Linesman with rope, Spirit of Tasmania 3” 2006 oil on canvas 20x25cm

42. THE LAST VOYAGE DH88 “Spirit of Tasmania 3 with cars entering ramp-the last voyage” 2006 oil on canvas 38x76cm COLLECTION : THE MITCHELL LIBRARY, STATE LIBRARY OF NSW

43. The Sydney Harbour Control Tower The ultimate bird’s eye view of Sydney – the control room of the still operational Sydney Harbour Control Tower gave me majestic panoramas of Harbour, Bridge & City to the east & the booming revitalized Pyrmont/Jacksons Landing to the west I painted over 40 works in the Sydney Harbour Control Tower series, several of which have won major awards & been acquired by various prestigious collections. The Mitchell Library, State Library of N.S.W, has acquired two paintings from this series.

44. HCT18 “The Hungry Mile from the Harbour Control Tower 2 “ 2008 gouache on paper 101 x 76cm

45. HCT26 “Forum Samoa from Harbour Tower “ 2008 gouache on paper 75 x 100cm

46. HCT15 'Don Juan' at night from the Harbour Control Tower 2007 gouache on paper 20 x 27cm

47. HCT2 “Darling Harbour from Harbour Control Tower” 2006 gouache on paper 45 x 31cm COLLECTION: THE MITCHELL LIBRARY, STATE LIBRARY OF NSW

48. "The Sydney Harbour Control Tower" 2008 oil on canvas 180 x 122cm

49. "The Sydney Harbour Control Tower" 2008 oil on canvas 180 x 122cm I was Artist in Residence at the "Hungry Mile" aka "East Darling Harbour Wharves" from 2005 until after the stevedores left & the preparations for "World Youth Week" had started. I painted this inside Shed 4, the top floor of which once contain the offices . While the wharf was still operational I would never have been allowed to paint there as it was far too dangerous. Forklifts used to whip in & out of the entrance constantly, & there was a deafening alarm that would go off whenever this happened. I had earmarked this spot as a site for an iconic painting as soon as I arrived in 2005. The doorway frames the Sydney Harbour Tower, the bond stores & the quirky architecture of the heritage Palisade Hotel perched on the golden sandstone escarpment to perfection. This area is now called Barangaroo. The once bustling wharf has suddenly become eerily silent; soon the cycle of demolition & construction shall begin.

50. DEPARTURE OF THE STEVEDORES OCTOBER 2007 DH171 “The empty wharf 3” 2007 oil on canvas 61 x 91cm COLLECTION OF SYDNEY PORTS CORPORATION

51. DH176 “The Dead House 2 “ oil on canvas 91 x 61cm 2007

52. DH172 “Relics from the Dead House” oil on canvas 41 x 51cm

53. DH157 “Relics from the 'Dead House'2 “ oil on canvas 46 x 61cm 2007

54. DH187 “The maiden call of the ‘Pacific Dawn’ with the demolition of Shed 6” 2008 oil on canvas 31 x 103cm DEMOLITION OF THE WHARVES

55. DH198 “The last of shed 4” 2008 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm

56. DH208 ”Wharf Skeleton” 2008 mixed media on paper 76 x 114cm

57. DH207 “Rehearsal for Raising the cross, Barangaroo “ oil on canvas 46 x 36cm 2008 WORLD YOUTH DAY

58. DH206A-B “Rehearsal for raising the cross, Barangaroo” Diptych 2008 oil on canvas 25 x 20cm each canvas (total size 51 x 20 cm)

59. Coda I seem to have an uncanny instinct for selecting subjects that are about to vanish. Ironically part of the attraction of such places is their poignant impermanence. I sought to paint the landscape forever poised at the moment of transition – at the first bite of the bulldozer – at the point of maximum contrast between past & future. I experienced great frustration at painting to an unknown but inevitable time limit as buildings were demolished as fast as I could paint them. As the momentum of development rapidly gathered, I continued to record this area with an increasing sense of purpose. These works changed from isolated images into an extensive narrative sequence of the abandonment, decay, destruction & reconstruction of a city - a metaphor for deeper changes within Australia. The mood has changed forever, & only my works remain as testament to the passing of an era.

60. About the Artist... Diploma of Arts 1982 Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Art Studies at C.O.F.A., University of N.S.W. 1983 28 solo exhibitions & included in many group exhibitions. Won over 120 art prizes, & many major commissions for government & corporate clients. A major retrospective of Jane’s work was the signature event of the 2006 Industrial Heritage Festival of the National Trust of Australia. http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/events/janebennett A canvas painted from the top of the A.N.Z.A.C. Bridge is now in the "ONE Hundred" exhibition of 100 iconic objects to celebrate the centenary of the Mitchell Library, State Library of N.S.W http://www.onehundred.sl.nsw.gov.au/100-objects/Exhibit-095.aspx

61. Major Awards & Prizes Received the Marten Bequest Travelling Art Scholarship for Painting in 1996 & awarded the 1996 Dyason Bequest by the Trustees of the Art Gallery of N.S.W. In 1997 awarded 3 months residency at the Moya Dyring Studio of the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris by the Trustees of the Art Gallery of N.S.W. , & a further residency at the Studio of the American Academy in Rome. Finalist in the 1986,1997 & 2008 Sulman Prize for Genre/History Painting 5 times a finalist in the Dobell Prize for Drawing; 6 times a finalist in the Wynne Prize for Landscape, winning the 1990, 1995 & 1996 Pring Prize for Watercolour & the 1995 Trustees’ Prize for Watercolour in the Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of N.S.W. In 2004 received the inaugural Sydney Harbour Week Award for artistic achievement.

62. Publications AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS’ INDEX 1986 Jan McDonald ARTISTS & GALLERIES OF AUSTRALIA 1990 Max Germaine DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN ARTISTS 1991 Max Germaine MANLY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM NEWS FEB 1994 Metropolis Now Michael Pursche THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN ART 1994 Compiled by Alan McCulloch; 1994 Edition revised & updated by Susan McCulloch A VISION REALISED 1998 Mr D. Max Taylor SUNCE JUŽNOG NEBA 2003 Zoja Bojić HARBOURLIFE 2007 Sydney Harbour from the 1940’s Gavin Wilson

63. Articles & Reviews AUSTRALIAN ARTIST MAGAZINE FEB 1991 THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 11/5/91 Sydney – City to the Fringes Elwyn Lynn THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 11/5/91 The Return to old Forms Bronwyn Watson THE EASTERN HERALD 18/6/92 Passionate about Pyrmont Pamela Payne THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 20/6/92 Graphic proofs of print power Elwyn Lynn THE CANBERRA TIMES 20/7/92 Exhibition Commentary Sonya Barron HOME BEAUTIFUL OCT 1992 Beginners’ guide to art collecting David Tribe NORTH SHORE TIMES 22/9/93 Woman with a mission Tanya Price THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 20/8/93 Fine art drawn from a limited range Bruce James THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 10/12/93 Metropolis Now Felicity Fenner MANLY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM NEWS FEB 1994 Metropolis Now Michael Pursche THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 9/4/94 Eyes on the Prizes Elwyn Lynn GLEBE & INNER CITY NEWS 17/8/94 Artistic Biography Scott Tucker THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 3/9/94 Parables’ divine Inspiration Elwyn Lynn THE TELEGRAPH MIRROR 3/9/94 In Pursuit of Pyrmont Stewart Hawkins THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 9/9/94 Paying Homage to Holden Felicity Fenner

64. Articles & Reviews continued … ART & AUSTRALIA, Vol 32 No3 1995 Exhibition Commentary THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 9/3/96 Archibald & the sex Goddess John McDonald THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 9/3/96 Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Peter Cochrane THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 16/3/96 Flawed Genius, good signs Giles Auty MODERN PAINTERS Summer Edition 1996 Gallery Karen Wright THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN OCT1996 High on Culture Giles Auty THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 29/3/97 Critical Madhouse Giles Auty GRADUATE REVIEW Winter/Spring 1997 Reaching the dizzy heights Jane Mundy THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 31/12/98 The Blake Prize Sebastian Smee THE AUSTRALIAN REVIEW 2/1/99 God & Glamour Giles Auty THE AUSTRALIAN REVIEW 27/3/99 Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prize Giles Auty NORTH SHORE TIMES 19/11/99 Walsh Bay a Winner for Jane ! Mary Powis NORTH SHORE TIMES 6/11/99 Capturing our heritage: Artist races developers Mary Powis NORTHERN DISTRICT TIMES 27/5/00 Past passions drive artist Jonathon Granger NORTH SHORE TIMES 2/6/00 Our great Times Art Prize Mary Powis CANBERRA TIMES 25/7/01 A remarkably high standard Sasha Grishin CANBERRA TIMES 26/7/01 Rocks, paper, flesh Jennifer Kingma NORTH SHORE TIMES 11/10/02 Artist wins top prize Mary Powis

65. Articles & Reviews continued … NORTH SHORE TIMES 21/03/03 Pymble artist beguiled by Harbour moods Mary Powis DISTRICT NEWS 26/08/03 Cityscapes to nudes Tara Commerford MOSMAN DAILY 26/03/03 Ablaze with inspiration Breda Wall THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 13/08/03 Beauty haunts the city’s ruins Elizabeth Fortescue DISTRICT NEWS 9/09/04 Casting light on local history Bianca Lipari THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 28/09/04 Brush with the city’s saw point Elizabeth Fortescue NORTH SHORE TIMES 15/10/04 All that remains are paintings Mary Powis SYDNEY MORNING HERALD DOMAIN 03/03/05 Vanishing act Jackie Chowns NORTH SHORE TIMES 23/03/05 Timeless tanker a win for Jane Mary Powis NORTH SHORE TIMES 25/03/05 Art on the move Mary Powis NORTH SHORE TIMES 15/11/05 Maritime memories Mary Powis THE OBSERVER May 2006 The end of Sydney as we know it Harriet Gollan SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 25/06/07 The end of an era caught on canvas Steve Meacham THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 29/06/07 Memory lanes Elizabeth Fortescue INNER WEST COURIER 03/07/07 Painted history of a city’s hidden gems Menios Constantinou AUSTRALIAN SEA HERITAGE 91/2007 Recording each passing Alan Edenborough SL : STATE LIBRARY MAGAZINE Autumn 2010 Q & A Cathy Perkins

66. Collections Jane’s work is represented in the collections of : the Mitchell Library, State Library of N.S.W. Artbank the Kedumba Contemporary Drawing Gallery many Regional Gallery & Municipal Council Collections Department of Defence University of N.S.W. University of Sydney many corporate & private collections throughout Australia, the U.S.A., the U.K., Hong Kong & Japan.