Mardi Gras blossoms

Mardi Gras blossoms

Amid the panic of choosing a costume and finishing the floats this month, there’s never been a better time to stop and smell the flowers, especially the ones in the City of Sydney’s Mardi Gras themed planter boxes dotted throughout the city.

For this year’s Living in Colour flower display, the council has taken inspiration from the colourful world of Mardi Gras history, eventuating in 14 totally fabulous flower arrangements devoted to everything from the rainbow flag to Dorothy’s red shoe.

Dotted throughout the city, each flower box holds a plaque to provide background on each featured idea or organisation, which includes the Dykes on Bikes, New Mardi Gras and Les Girls.

Gay marriage is referenced in a design featuring two inverted hearts entitled -˜equality’ as is the theme of -˜diversity’. While more frivolous designs pay homage to a series of GLBT icons, including Felicia from Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the song Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend and even the obligatory Mardi Gras disco balls have undergone a floral interpretation.

New Mardi Gras chairman David Imrie was more than pleased with the results and could not help but laugh at the positioning of a Mardi Gras planter box in the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt.

I think it’s fabulous that there are bright and bold Mardi Gras-themed designs dotted throughout the city in prominent and important places throughout the city. It adds another splash of colour to Sydney during the Mardi Gras Festival, he said.

The other thing I really like is the irony of the fact that there are planter boxes outside the Cathedral. I just love it given the Pope’s recent outlandish statements, that Cathedral square has been decorated by the City of Sydney with Mardi Gras themed boxes – it’s fabulous.

A City of Sydney spokeswoman further explained that the annual Living Colour display holds a tradition of promoting local events.

The City often uses Living Colour summer displays to help promote events and festivals in Sydney, she said.

Designs were chosen that could represent the Mardi Gras parade and festival and be easily turned into floral patterns. The designers, John Patrick Landscape Architecture collaborated with New Mardi Gras in selecting individual themes for each display.

Imrie hopes that aside from contributing some colour, the displays will attract and inform Sydneysiders about the history of Sydney’s GLBT movement.

They’re in places like Martin Place and the QVB and down at Woolloomooloo, places that aren’t traditionally associated with Mardi Gras so it’ll build a greater awareness of the festival citywide, he said.

info: A brochure detailing the positions of all Mardi Gras themed planter boxes can be downloaded via www.cityofsydney.gov.au.

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6 responses to “Mardi Gras blossoms”

  1. I realised there was more to life than Oxford Street. Chris, the only thing that separates you and I is “Sydney Harbour” No Im not “Out of Touch” only “older and wiser”

  2. oliver…..from your perch , pontificating over in Kirribilli is is so obvious to us here ….you are totally out of touch!!

  3. Mardigras for us country folk is an amazing time in a gay persons life,when ever we go to sydney for the festival we always here the complaining queens that have nothing better to do but moan and complain about everything that happens in sydney.MARDIGRAS IS INTERESTING VIBRANT AND HAS ACHEIVED SO MUCH FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY.Then again out here in the country we still get those complaining tired gay and lesbians that have lost the ability to HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE,without these celebrations bringing our community together we have NOTHING,,,think about it

  4. Hell, while we’re at it how about we cancel: Christmas, New Years Eve, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, ANZAC Day, Valentine’s Day and anything else that we celebrate or remember. Slither back into your hole you silly silly worm Oliver. HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

  5. If you know you are Australian, you don’t need a parade (or day) to tell you so?!?

    What a double standard Oliver. Why is it ok for others to celebrate their culture and community but not us?

  6. Mardi Gras isnt interesting any more. Its one of the most dangerous nights on the calender to be out on the town. If you know your Gay, you dont need a parade to tell you so!!!