CAPO Launches 2002 Theme

by Norma Allen

The lovers said a touching farewell as they kissed in the shadow of the World War II plane, a Lockheed L12. It’s Rick and Ilsa from Casablanca  among the helicopters, submarines and tanks, in the Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial, just CAPO’s way of introducing their 2002 auction and ball to the media.

Rick (Tony Turner) in his Bogart trench coat and Ilsa (Lisa McClelland) in her Ingrid Bergman ‘40s suit and black hat introduced the motif of Casablanca and all things Moroccan, the theme of the CAPO ball on September 7 in the National Gallery, while the piano player (Sam) drifted us off with As Time Goes By (Daniel Edmonds).

CAPO (Capital Arts Patrons Organisation) which raises funds to disperse to artists is in its 19th year. Stephen Kelen is the CAPO Fellow for 2001, receiving $15,000 to further himself as a poet. Stephen Holland was granted $10,000 with the Rosalie Gascoigne award for sculpture and performance art. And the Singapore Airlines grant of $7,500 was awarded to Ian Jones, a ceramicist. Singapore Airlines are on board again this year for the seventh time.

President Tony Magee welcomed the guests, including new sponsor Richard O’Dell, the Griffith butcher and long-time supporters Bates and Pickering, My Music and wine people Madew’s and Yalumba. The two latter will continue the CAPO custom of wine labels designed by CAPO Fellows. Blackshaws are once again on the sponsor list, and Tony’s speech contained the news that since 1983, CAPO has raised and distributed the magic million dollars.

Lyn Cummings, Domenic Andreacchio, Steve Bates, Tony Brighton, Rhys Holden, Robin Hendry, Marylou Pooley and Valerie Kirk were in the audience.

First published in The Canberra Times, May 14, 2002

Celebrating the arts, Casablanca-style

Tony Turner and Lisa McClelland, as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman,
get into gear for the CAPO gala ball. Picture: RICHARD BRIGGS

by HELEN MUSA

Arts Editor

It will be all glamour and romance on September 7 when the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation stages its annual gala ball and auction at the National Gallery of Australia on the theme of Casablanca.

So glamorous in fact, that CAPO president Tony Magee has been swapping Moroccan lamb recipes with a sponsoring butcher. The launch was held yesterday at the Australian War Memorial in front of a real Lockheed Hudson bomber - the same as in the movie.

Sponsorship is the essence of the organisation, which has raised more than $1 million in its 20 year history to support independent artists like poet Stephen Kelen, artist Dianne Fogwell and actor Kenneth Spiteri, as well as bodies like Muse arts monthly and Canberra Youth Theatre.

On hand to give the occasion the right touch of mystery were the Australian National University’s Tony Turner pretending to be Humphrey Bogart and actress Lisa McClellend as Ingrid Bergman.

Magee said his “procurement” committee was now busy persuading members of the business and arts communities to join in donating auctionable items, which in the past have included a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a night out with Bronwyn Bishop. Would-be donors can phone 6249 7860.

Once again, Singapore Airlines will come to the party with return tickets to somewhere very near Casablanca. It seems the company does not fly directly to Morocco, but it does fly to Madrid, and by Magee’s estimate, if you nip down to Gibraltar you can catch a ferry!

The airline’s done it before, the gallery has been the location before, the donations have been huge every year. It ought to be a case of “play it again Sam”.

First published in The Canberra Times, May 9 2002.

ARTS 12 does her duty as a wedding limo!

 

My Mercedes as a wedding limo! With me as chauffeur and the beautiful bride,
Meg Corson! May 4, 2002