Taylor Square art project steps into a new costume

City of Sydney Project manager Glenn Wallace has revealed what the next artwork at Taylor Square will look like.

“Camp Stonewall”, a wooden construction of windows and doorframes will invite people to sit down and listen to audio interviews with gay activists, local residents and eminent Australian gay men.

It will be unveiled in September when the Art & About festival begins.

Artist Annie Kennedy is creating the artwork, which highlights the Australian Gay Rights Campaign in Australia.

“I hope the work will be thought provoking for those passing by, and provide insight via the oral history component in the work as well as being aesthetically interesting,” she says.

“I hope to embody a sense of local history and pride within my work, and create a visually engaging work that will animate that public space.”

Council wants to turn the spotlight away from the unpleasant adjectives of Taylor Square such as noise, congestion and violence outside of the nightclubs.

While some people in the neighbourhood are sceptical about the money that is being spent on art, the $150,000 Taylor Square Plinth Project aims to draw attention to the cultural history behind the area.

Three artists have been chosen to participate in this temporary art program. They have been given a $50,000 budget each, to create something they believe captures the interesting and beautiful sides of Taylor Square.

According to City of Sydney’s Project manager, Glenn Wallace, the artists are not allowed to go over budget. He points out that the $150,000 comes from the resident’s rates.

“We got to be very careful about that because it is the resident’s money that we are spending here,” he says.

The City of Sydney is hoping that The Plinth Project will enhance Taylor Square’s reputation.

“The city does tend to attract people that are unemployed, or there is drug problems and alcohol problems”, Mr Wallace says.

“We are not cleaning them out of the way, we’re just trying to kind of make the place look a little bit more cared for.”

Darlinghurst resident Elizabeth Jarret, 24, says while she enjoys art, she is sceptical about the money that is being spent by the council.

“Taylor Square will always be Taylor Square. It’s a mishmash of wealthy people, homeless people and those with problems such as drug abuse,” she says.

“I walk through this area every day and I think the art is nice, but I am not sure if it is worth $150,000. I would rather see the council spending that money on new bicycle lanes.”

But based on the positive reactions so far from the City’s Public Art Advisory Panel, the Taylor Square Plinth Project looks set to continue for at least another 18 months.

By Gabriella Lahti