In
February 2014 The City of Sydney Council endorsed Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s
proposal to install a permanent artwork at Taylor Square to mark the 40th
anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018.
This
decision came about after the early removal of our loved Rainbow Crossing by
the State Government and a well-attended Rainbow Rights Forum held by the City
at Paddington Town Hall in July 2013. There were numerous ideas, several of
which incorporated a rainbow motif. Ideas included a rainbow suspended over
Taylor Square, a rainbow fountain, ideas for sculptures, lighting, and plaques
that told our communities stories.
Apart
from the range of different ideas, strong views were expressed about the role
such a symbol should play. Foremost was the desire that it be permanent and
that it capture the character of the Sydney LGBTI community, in both its
playful and serious modes. That it should serve as a landmark, a destination and
a meeting place. Something people wanted to photograph and share with others.
Earlier
this year David Lang, who is remembered for his Cynthia Randall drag queen
persona and who was very much front and centre of the drag community of the
late 80s early 90s, established a Facebook memorial group for ‘Our Dearly
Departed Gay Entertainers’. And for many months this group has been very active
in discussing how our community could celebrate and remember their contribution
to Gay Sydney.
Lang
said “For some time I have believed that this group needs to be remembered and
their names etched into history by giving the future a chance to glance
back. It is because of their tireless
efforts, strength and determination we have enjoyed the most dynamic cultural
LGBTI community in the world”.
Lang’s
vision for the memorial is a bronze statute at Taylor Square. This will be a
life sized version of the DIVA (Drag Industry Variety Awards) awards statue
designed by Ian Jopson and placed on what would almost appear to be the purpose
built pedestal outside the Oxford Hotel and adjacent to the disused toilet
block. He estimates that the entire cost will be approximately one hundred
thousand dollars and a small trust fund would also be set up for maintenance
and the addition of more names as time passes.
While
there are many Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorials around the world, including
our own Sydney Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial at Green Park in
Darlinghurst, there are fewer gay specific public art statues of significance.
Gay Liberation by George Segal |
The
Gay Liberation Monument is a monument featuring the bronze sculpture Gay
Liberation by American artist George Segal, located in Christopher Park in the
West Village section of Manhattan, New York. Located at the northern end of the
park, the art installation commemorates the Stonewall riots and features four
figures, two standing men and two seated women, in affectionate poses. The
monument was dedicated in June 1992 and is part of the Stonewall National
Monument.
Alan Turing by Glyn Hughes |
Visit
Sackville Gardens next to Canal Street, the gay epicentre of Manchester in
England, and you will find the statue of Alan Turing sitting on a bench. Turing
is one of Manchester's most famous gay figures. The life-size bronze figure,
made by Glyn Hughes in 2001 tells the story of how he helped defeat the Nazis
in World War II but was shunned by a country unable to accept his homosexuality
and is both a reminder and celebration of how far society has developed in the
years since.
Lange
has since received a response from the City that the Public Art Advisory Panel
carefully reviewed the proposal and has advised not to accept any proposals for
Taylor Square as the current focus is the planning for the permanent
installation celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mardi Gras.
Lang
is now proposing that a temporary version of the proposed statue be installed
for the duration of the next Mardi Gras Festival in 2017. He tells me this has
been met with enthusiasm and the plan is to have a structure built using
perhaps fibre glass and other less expensive materials however appearing as it
would if cast in bronze.
Lange
said “I am hoping that this will look so good and compliment the surroundings
leaving the Advisory Panel no alternative but to approve the permanent statue”
This
opens a can of worms as to what we want as a community to be our permanent
public art installation at Taylor Square. Everyone will have great ideas and
let’s hope we all get to have a say. But you have to admit just this one
proposal is so so Sydney!
2017 MG Festival has come and gone and so to has 2022...would be good to see such a statute commemorating 'show girls' as described and placed in the square by the old toilet block outside the Oxford Hotel to show something of our dynamic and significant cultural history for next year's World Pride taking place in Sydney with a focus on the so called Golden Mile where very little of our glorious
ReplyDeletepast is still existing...
https://saglamproxy.com
ReplyDeletemetin2 proxy
proxy satın al
knight online proxy
mobil proxy satın al
NTNH8