The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (until 1989 the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras) originated in June 1978 as a political demonstration march advocating the civil rights of homosexual people in Australia. The Mardi Gras has since become an annual calendar of events in which the Mardi Gras parade (February/March) and the Sleaze Ball (September/October) are the headline events. The Mardi Gras parade is one of Sydney's most spectacular annual festivals with state, national and international appeal.

These posters complement the Museum's extensive collection of Mardi Gras posters, the earliest dating from the late 1970s. The posters demonstrate the role of grassroots activism, cultural development and graphic design in the gay community and wider Australian society as well as the major annual events that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras contribute to the community and cultural life of Sydney and Australia.

Leah Domanski
April 2008

The designer of the poster is Ron Smith who designed the poster in Sydney, 1988.

Poster, ' Sydney Gay Mardi Gras Presents Cool with Sunny Periods', colour offset print on paper, designed by Ron Smith, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988

Full-colour printed poster in horizontal format, with gloss finish. Lettering in various colours reads the 'SYDNEY GAY MARDI GRAS presents / COOL WITH SUNNY / PERIODS / design: MURRAY PICKNET / lighting: ALAN PARKINSON / d.j.: JOHN HARDIDGE / varilights: PETER NUEFELD / HORDERN aug.20'. The illustrations depict an Australian snow-scape with a man dressed in a yellow and pink polka-dot jumpsuit and white slippers, holding an orange surfboard and pink, floral bucket containing sporting equipment. A white speech bubble, containing 'party! party!' in black lettering, is positioned to the right of the man's head.

Designed: 1988

2008/129/2

1988

762 mm

1020 mm