Yesterday members of Sydney?s art community gathered at the Mosman? gallery to witness the unveiling of a work gifted to the gallery by John Olsen. The work entitled The Rolling Sea and that Streeton Painting is Olsen?s response to Arthur Streeton?s Sydney Harbour, 1895 donated as part of the Balnaves gift. 
Inspired by seeing a reproduction of Streeton?s Sydney Harbour John wished to ?paint a conversation with it?. ?
?The painting is an evocation of memory. As students at the Julian Ashton Art School we would delight to take the Manly Ferry when the sea was rough. Round about Balmoral the ferry would roll and the turbulent sea would wash over the deck. How exciting, what fun. The Streeton painting evokes that ? notice how the ferry is riding the turbulent sea. When I saw it at the Mosman Gallery, how supremely it is and confirms our experience today. 'The Rolling Sea...' confirms and emphasises that experience, it is an all at once world. I can think of no better place for it than to be near Streeton?s painting of 1895 and how that same circumstance can be viewed today.? 
