Saturday, 10 December 2011

A Wet Week in Sydney

A few weeks ago I got to spend a week in Sydney at a conference. Usually Sydney Harbour is like a gorgeous turquoise jewel. A joy to behold. A bit like this




This particular week supplied only 45 minutes of sunshine, and Sydney was looking grey and drab, and more like her winter self, than her usual springtime loveliness. Still a week in Sydney is always a great thing. The views were more often like this though.



I became increasingly distracted by the jewel like painting that was down a corridor at the Convention Centre. It looked like a Brett Whiteley. But could it really be a Brett Whiteley? Just sitting out there? Not in a gallery? With no guards to guard it?
It's really quite big

On the last day I went down to check it out. And there it was. It was a Whiteley! Just hanging there with no gallery guards to guard it!


Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books
at

20 comments:

  1. Paulita 10 December 2011 at 22:26

    I've never heard of Brett Whitely, but you're right, the painting is captivating. Sorry your weather is lousy, but there's more good to come as you reach summer. It's 20 degrees Farenheit here. Here's Mine

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  2. Staci10 December 2011 at 23:09

    I love the painting, but no nothing about this artist. I would love to spend a week on Sydney regardless of the weather!

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  3. Trish10 December 2011 at 23:35

    What a gorgeous painting. All that blue!

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  4. Kaye11 December 2011 at 00:05

    There's some very serene though in the monochromatic photo.

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  5. (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea11 December 2011 at 00:16

    I love that! I also like that shade of blue (most shades of blue for that matter).

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  6. Laurel-Rain Snow11 December 2011 at 01:44

    I'm not familiar with the artist, but I love the painting!

    And your Sydney Harbour, despite the gray day.

    Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT and
    MY WEBSITE

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  7. Sheila (Bookjourney)11 December 2011 at 01:55

    I looked up the information about the artist - wow - what a find! I would be excited to!

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  8. Kath Lockett11 December 2011 at 02:25

    ....wow...! That would have a rope, a guard and an alarm system if it was in Switzerland!

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  9. bermudaonion11 December 2011 at 02:55

    I'd take any kind of weather if I had the chance to visit Sydney.

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  10. Leslie (Under My Apple Tree)11 December 2011 at 03:30

    What a cheerful and colorful painting, I can see why you like it. Too bad you got a bad weather week in Sydney.

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  11. Irene11 December 2011 at 03:45

    Wonderful painting, and Sydney in any kind of weather would be o.k. with me.

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  12. Lisa11 December 2011 at 03:57

    Sometimes, a vacation with bad weather can be the best vacation. And I love the beach in winter, so it would be a win for me! Great pictures.

    Here's my snapshot.

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  13. Stephen11 December 2011 at 04:01

    That looks like an exquisite shade of blue to view in-person!

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  14. Alyce11 December 2011 at 04:44

    That painting is beautiful and vivid! I don't think I've ever seen a photo of Sydney with such a grey sky. Hopefully I'll get to visit Australia and see it in person someday (without grey skies). :)

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  15. Anne@HeadFullofBooks11 December 2011 at 06:04

    Good find noticing the artwork by the famous artist, who I guess is a fan of A.A.

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  16. Cipriano11 December 2011 at 07:25

    I fell in love with Sydney, and with Australia in general when they hosted the Olympics.
    Reading Bill Bryson's excellent and hilarious travel book In A Sunburned Country solidified my admiration of the "land down under".
    Sorry your weather was not perfect.

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  17. Unknown11 December 2011 at 07:36

    This painting is beautiful, I love the colors and style. You've got a great eye! I'm surprised it was just hanging in a hallway like that! Could the center be unaware of what a valuable piece of art they have? I would think they'd know. Hhhmmmm....!

    I'm sorry your days in Australia didn't resemble what's shown in the painting at all, but still I hope you enjoyed any free time you had in Australia!

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  18. Anonymous11 December 2011 at 09:07

    That is really a stunning painting. I'm afraid I've never heard of Brett Whitely either, but a quick google search impressed me a lot and I'm now better informed than I was.
    Too bad about the weather though :-)

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  19. Lady In Read11 December 2011 at 14:06

    thanks for visiting and thanks for introducing a wonderful artist as well... love the painting..

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  20. Anonymous12 December 2011 at 00:31

    I'm not familiar with Bill Whiteley, but that painting is exquisite. I do admit that when I envision Sydney, I picture sun and surf!

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Thank you for commenting.