The Golden Age of Parties: From Design to Production
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When
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Address
Cnr Oxford St & Greens Rd Paddington NSW 2021
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Hours
2–3PM
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Phone
+61 2 8936 0888
The 1980s and 1990s are heralded as the ‘golden age’ of queer parties in Sydney. This scene also became a locus for creatives across disciplines who contributed to the festivals, parades, and parties.
This panel discussion brings together photographer Peter Elfes, designer Victor Li, video artist and technician Tim Gruchy, party producer David Wilkins (aka Dot Dingle), and creative director Gill Minervini. Together they reflect on the pioneering designs in graphics, posters, and promotional ephemera, to the leading technical developments in lighting, set design, and early multimedia projection created for signature LGBTQ events including the celebrated Recreational Arts Team (RAT) parties, Sleaze Ball, Sweatbox, and Mardi Gras.
Peter Elfes is an award-winning photographer with a career spanning 35 years. Inspired by his photojournalist father and inner-city queer creatives, Peter’s first job was at Freeman Studio, Australia’s oldest photographic studio. From 1990 to 2000, Peter was the official photographer for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney Star Observer. His wide-angle photographs of spectacular laser shows attracted the world to Sydney as it became the dance party capital of the world.
Tim Gruchy’s extensive career spans immersive, interactive multimedia through installation, music and performance, whilst redefining its’ role and challenging delineations between cultural sectors. Tim was involved in many of the late Recreational Arts Team (RAT) parties as a pioneering video artist and technician. He has exhibited multimedia works, photography, video, music and performance since the early 1980s as well as larger expressions in the public art arenas.
Victor Li is the Creative Director at Our Agency, one of Australia’s leading brand design and CGI agencies, and has won 20 design awards for the agency between 2005–22. Victor was a designer and promotor for some of Sydney’s pioneering clubs and parties, including Sleaze Ball (1991), The Chinese Laundry (1993) and Sweatbox Productions (1989–93), developing unique themes that extended from the graphics used in promotional material to the elaborate scenic design. Many of Victor’s poster designs and club flyers are now held in the National Gallery of Australia and Powerhouse Museum collections.
David Wilkins, also known by his drag name Dot Dingle, joined the Sydney Mardi Gras Committee in 1984, becoming General Secretary and Festival Coordinator (1985–86), and then Mardi Gras Party Producer (1988–90). David was also a member of the team that produced the first party at the Hordern Pavilion in 1984. He was co-producer and then producer of the ‘Hand In Hand’ series of parties (1992–2002), ACON's major fundraising party to support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. David was also the founding President of Pride, producing two successful fundraising parties with the help of the Recreation Arts Team (RAT) in 1989. He was co-founder and Chair of the DIVA Awards and a founding Member and Trustee of Aurora. David has worked as ACON's Events & Fundraising Coordinator since 1998.
Moderator: Gill Minervini is a creative director, producer and creative consultant with over 30 years’ experience in festivals and large-scale event direction and delivery. Minervini was the first Festival Director of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and is currently Festival Director of VIVID Sydney. She was formerly Creative Director for City of Sydney Events, and Program Manager for Community Cultural Development at the Australia Council. Recent projects also include Firelight Festival Creative Director, Adelaide Festival Artistic Associate, Dark Mofo Winter Feast Director, Rugby League World Cup Opening Ceremony Creative Director, and Creative Director of major public art projects for Transport for NSW. She directed many dance parties and party shows in the 90s for Mardi Gras, Pride and Winter Daze in Melbourne.
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Presented in conjunction with THE PARTY, a landmark exhibition celebrating LGBTQI+ party culture in Sydney from 1973 to 2002. Exhibition continues at UNSW Galleries to 23 April 2023.



Images: The Golden Age of Parties: From Design to Production for 'Mixed Company' at UNSW Galleries, 2023.