Illustrations of Sydney's gay legends and key locations will brighten up Oxford Street after criticism about the state of the strip ahead of WorldPride.
Petersham queer artist Amy Blue has created what she describes as a "sort of Gay-B-C" of Oxford Street.
"I wanted this collection of illustrations to capture a snippet of some of the people and events that have illuminated Oxford Street throughout its brilliant and colourful history," Ms Blue said.
The collection will be plastered on hoardings covering construction sites on council-owned properties along the famed gay nightclub strip.
Among those featured are Doris Fish, a Sydney drag queen in the 1970s, the Unicorn Hotel and Black Ada's dance school, a front for a gay dance club run in the 1920s and 30s.
Splashed across the hoardings are words such as "voguing", "golden mile" and, of course, "Mardi Gras". Scattered in between the more than 200 people, places and words are pieces of fruit, a reference to a slang term for queer people.
"It's a term that probably was used as a negative term back in the day, but I wanted to just embrace it, we're all a bunch of fruits," Ms Blue said.
Nurturing 'queer beginnings'
After moving to Sydney from Crescent Head in northern New South Wales in 2004, Ms Blue said Oxford Street played a pivotal role in her "queer beginnings".
"Moving from a small country town into a big city, Oxford Street was there for me in that kind of queer awakening, so it will always be really special to me," she said.
"Even just as innocent as going to the Mardi Gras for the first time, just finding your community and feeling a sense of camaraderie."
She hoped more effort would be made to revive the strip, which has suffered under NSW's lockout laws, pandemic restrictions and a general decline, leading to nightclub and shop closures.
"We need to nurture the creatives, and music and nightlife, and all communities coming together. It's such a special place in history and I'll always love it. I just think there are a few changes that need to be made," she said.
Redevelopment ongoing
Ms Blue's artwork will be spread over three blocks that the council leased to investment firm AsheMorgan which plans to convert them into retail, food and drink venues and offices, as well as a creative space and boutique hotel.
The deal to redevelop the properties was made in 2019 but work will not be finished in time for WorldPride when tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the area.
Ms Blue's illustrations are part of the City of Sydney's attempts to beautify the street at the centre of Sydney's gay scene.
"This fantastic work of art will make Oxford Street look the part for WorldPride 2023 and Mardi Gras' return to its spiritual home," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Last month, the council approved an extra $300,000 for WorldPride, on top of an $800,000 sponsorship and $650,000 of in-kind support.
The funding will be used to beautify Oxford Street with floral art displays, create front window displays in vacant shops and refresh the rainbow crossing.
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