The inside story of Sydney’s “Progress Shark” that got the Rainbow City rolling
“The response from the community was very positive. We’ve had tourists who are in town for this event say how wonderful it is to be greeted by Progress Shark,” she said.
Starting this weekend, the shark is in contention for the title of Sydney WorldPride’s Leading Animal Statue, when the large recumbent gorilla outside Mosman’s Taronga Zoo also receives a rainbow makeover.
There will be 45 activations across the city.
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The King Nyani statue, the work of international public artists and conservationists Gillie and Marc, which has stood at the zoo’s entrance since last April, is adorned with a rainbow cape while disco balls hang from the surrounding trees.
The installations are among 45 projects commissioned as part of the WorldPride Rainbow City project, which has called on cultural centres, businesses and communities to create public rainbow artworks at prominent locations in Sydney.
On February 17, the sails of the Opera House will display a progress flag, while the Ferris wheel in Luna Park will also turn rainbow colors during the festival and the facade of Sydney’s Jewish Museum will feature rainbow illustrations by local artist Leo Greenfield.
A huge 10 story mural is being painted on a building in Darlinghurst.
Murals have been painted on the seawall at Bondi Beach and Manly Corso, while Parramatta’s Phive community center will host a light show and Katoomba’s Scenic Skyway will fly a rainbow flag.
“It’s a sign of how much things have changed since the first Mardi Gras in 1978 that companies,
Organizations and institutions across Sydney are coming together to spin the city’s rainbow for WorldPride,” said Kate Wickett, Festival CEO.
Rainbow City installations
- 45 Hearts – Paddington
- Bondi Beach sea mural
- Coogee Rainbow Staircase
- Streetscape of George Street
- ICONS – Broadway Shopping Center
- Living Color Flowers – Sydney CBD
- Love Street – Kensington Street, Chippendale
- Male mural
- Male Rainbow Sculpture
- PHIVE—Parramatta
- Proud Beacon – Newtown
- Pride Parkland – Bradfield City Centre
- Progress Shark – Australian Museum
- Rainbow Colonnade at EDDY (Eddy Avenue)
- Rainbow Ferris Wheel – Luna Park
- Rainbow Light Mural – Sydney University
- Rainbow Road Circular Quay
- Rainbow Tunnels in Sydney’s Inner West
- Rainbow Walk – Barangaroo
- Scenic Skyway Pride Flag – Blue Mountains
- Taylor Square Fountain
- The Chalice in the Royal Botanic Gardens
- Inner West Pride Pathway
- Building Proudly – Sydney CBD
- Queen Nyani – Taronga Zoo
- Taylor Square Mural – Kinselas
- Rainbow Hub – Lane Cove Plaza
- Cloak – UTS Central (Building 2)
- Embrace the Rainbow – Pacific Square, Maroubra
- AZ of Oxford Street – Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
- Wallumattagal Campus Pride Stride – Macquarie University
- The Dream Cube – Westfield Sydney
- Rainbow Archway – Wollongong Central
- Magic Portals – Sydney Olympic Park
- Rainbow Terminal – Sydney Airport
- Dear Pop – Tech Central
- Jewish Pride – Sydney Jewish Museum
- Bondi Bounce
- NIDA rainbow
- Marrickville Library Pride Poles
- Queer Walks – Parramatta Square
- Pride Pole – 9 Castlereagh St
- Hurstville Rainbow Crossing
- Still blooming mural by Dylan Mooney – Darlinghurst
- Sydney Opera House sails
Sydney WorldPride begins on Saturday and runs through March 5th. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras takes place on February 25th.
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https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-inside-story-of-sydney-s-progress-shark-kicking-off-the-rainbow-city-20230210-p5cjj9.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national The inside story of Sydney’s “Progress Shark” that got the Rainbow City rolling
