Ga Ga at the Corel Gala '99

By Bill Needle

It was kinda like your high school grad. On one hand, everyone was decked out in their penguin suits or cocktail dresses. On the other hand, you could imagine yourself ordering a hotdog and coke while watching Alexei Yashin dippsy-doodle around the center line during an NHL hockey game. An ideal place for the Corel Gala? Corelians, media, spouses, and undercover Mac users (kidding!) were in attendance on a Wednesday in April, 1999 for one of the most sought-after celebrations in the city of Ottawa.

Bring it on Baby!

Let's get right to the point. You want to see the dress, huh?! Surprise, there was no dress. This time Marlen Cowpland sported a cat suit equipped with her diamond nipple à la gold plated breast shield. What's not in this picture is the three-feet of chain extending from the bottom of the breast shield to her left index finger. Hmmm, wonder if that chain can be reused on snow tires during our one of Ottawa's icy winter storms.

Before you leave this picture, take a look at the guy behind her. I think he's saying, "The horrors, the horrors." Actually, this shot is taken during the judging of the Art contestants. Prior to the actual show, judges (usually computer illiterate media types and politicians) are given hand-help voting machines just like the audience in America's Funniest Videos. When the hostess, Sue Findlay this year, gives the judges the cue after the contestant's art is flashed on a screen, judges have 10 seconds to punch in the number associated with their favorite. Michael is holding the unit in this left hand.

I think Marlen's unit is tangled in the chain I mentioned. Makes it real difficult to drink and vote!

Let's Party Like It's 1999…

Mention free food and Tom Anzai (far left) is there. Both Tom and his wife, Marie, were invited to the Air Canada Restaurant for a choice of either smoked salmon (mmmmmm) or chicken dinner with the Corel Training & Certification Department. Of course, they chose the salmon!

Left to right: Tom Anzai (Anzai! Inc.), Karen Letain (Curriculum Development Manager), Fiazz Walji (Certification Programs Development Manager, Tanya Bremer-LeSage (Training Partner Program Development Manager), and Corey Dignard (Training & Certification Specialist - North America).

Not shown: Marie Anzai, who is taking the picture!

And the Grand Prize Winner Is...

Oh yes, almost forgot that the whole reason for the show as to honor the best of show for the 1998 Corel  Design Contest. The winner was Adauto Machado Dos Santos, from Brazil, for his design, Contemplation in the People, Plants & Animals category. He is listed as a professional designer and canvas painter who has been using CorelDRAW since version 3.0. The 48-year old Brazilian artist has previously lived in Paris, France, and Winnipeg (brrrrr) Canada and enjoys spending his time designing painting exhibitions and teaching CorelDRAW.

At first glance, it looks like there is a smudge mark on the artwork, but this vividly realistic design depicts an old woman smoking a pipe. According to the press release: "Mr. Dos Santos was inspired by a photo of the woman, and obtained permission to reproduce it using CorelDRAW." To make the design appear true-to-life, Dos Santos spent approximately 300 hours creating the wrinkles on the woman's face. I think it's time for Oil of Olay!

Click on any of the artwork to see a larger image!

Canada's own Wolfgang Maul who took the honors for a realistic 3D piece called Checkmate in the Abstracts category. Mr. Maul originally worked as a cabinet maker and downloaded a demo version of CorelDRAW 4 from the web (boy, was that in this century?) and "was hooked". The 32-year old is currently the web master at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and spends his spare time writing and exploring 3D design. Checkmate!

Hans Joachim Kardinal of Germany won with St. Tropez Harbor, in the Landscapes and Landmarks category. Hans was the Best of Show winner last year. I wonder if he uses a mouse or a tablet? No doubt, this guy is the node & cusp master! Mr. Kardinal is a 60-year old retired engineer from Germany who began designing technical drawings using CorelDRAW 2.0 in 1990 (remember the 5 1/4" inch installation disks?)

Italy's Flavio Franchini won Grand Prize for his creation Work in Progress in the Page Layout and Promotional Works category. Mr. Franchini worked as a shoe designer (if the shoe fits...) while using CorelDRAW 5 in his spare time and in a few weeks he had "fallen in love" with computer graphics. He stopped designing shoes in 1997 to pursue a career with an advertising agency as a graphic and web designer. Any bet it's his hand in the design? Simple design but tastefully done.

Dennis Koutylov of Russia took the honors in Technical Drawings for his work entitled Mountain Bike Project. Mr. Koutylov is an art director for an advertising agency in Moscow, Russia and has been using Corel products since 1994. His studies at the Moscow Count Stroganov (as in beef?) State University of Fine Arts and Design along with a wide spectrum of positions related to design has contributed to his expertise. Personally, I wouldn't mind mounting this bicycle. Only problem would be on figuring out where to put the Pee-Wee Herman spoke sparklers and handlebar streamers...

Panagiotis Intakidis of Greece was the winner in the Specialty category. He had two entries and we think that the winner was this untitled music CD cover. Looks like the CorelDRAW 8/9 box lady (Hedy Lamarr) turning into a sultry Pegasus-butterfly. What?! Mr. Intakidis is a costume designer (quick, I need him for Halloween!) and has used CorelDRAW since version 3.0. His experience paid off, as he won in four different categories with designs that took him anywhere from five to 12 days to create.

Samir Muslic of the USA was the winner in Corporate and Product Information for his creation The Tool House catalog, featuring a lobster that I think was on my dinner plate. Mr. Muslic was one of the first artists in Bosnia to start using a PC and graphic applications to produce artwork. It took him approximately 30 hours to create this winning entry.

A Hobnobbing We Will Go

The Anzai's had informally arranged a photo op with Dr. Cowpland after the ceremony. Problem was that he had moved into his private suite with his close associates. Not to be outdone, Marie moved into action. Taking the Corel bull by the horns, she tracked down the suite number through several confidants. The small suite, which is a luxury box for hockey games, was packed. Marie, seeing Tom eyeing the fresh shrimp platter on a nearby table, grabbed his arm and circled around to his majesty. Tom introduced himself and spoke briefly about the courseware business. Then it was a Kodak moment. But this time, Marie got one of the roomies to take the photo so she could be in the picture. I guess she's allowed since she did get them into the room...

The Clock Struck Twelve...
...and it was time to relieve the Anzai kid's (four furry critters) babysitter, Kathleen, from the confines of their leather couch back home. Tom and Marie said their good-byes and headed towards the Exit signs in the Corel Center. The final score? Team Anzai edging out the bowels of the Corel Center 1-0. Re-match next year at the Corel Gala '00!

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