Artist David Capra recently heard some interesting stories about elephants in a front yard! This is part of David’s arts and history research for his No Boundaries mini-project:
I was privileged to meet Joanne Phillips, the late partner of famed Worth Circus clown Davis “Chookey” Phillips.
Joanne shared thrilling stories with me, of how Chookey would bring home a herd of elephants that would graze on the front yard of their Mount Druitt home… or a monkey to entertain the children before bed.
Joanne told stories of how they meet at Redfern as children, how Chookey travelled the world and performed regularly at the Worth Circus central base, what is now Sydney’s Crown Theatre.
I’m looking forward to sharing Chookey’s story in No Boundaries as the project unfolds!
-David Capra
