David Johnston: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 25, 2010

An enthusiastic tribute to Paul Quarrington by friend and colleague, David Johnston. This was shot live at the event ?Life in Music, Words, and on Screen? produced by BookShorts on behalf of IFOA and Humber School for Writers. The celebration was just a small taste of Quarrington?s incredible body of work in film, tv, literature, music, stage, education, journalism and more (Toronto, October 24, 2009). For more about Paul?s artistry visit his site at www.paulquarrington.org; to find out how you can extend support to more multidisciplinary artists, join the Quarrington Arts Society at quarringtonartsociety.ca

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David Fox: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 25, 2010

Actor / director David Fox recalls his long association with Paul Quarrington is his tribute to Paul Quarrington, shot live at the event ?Life in Music, Words, and on Screen? produced by BookShorts on behalf of IFOA and Humber School for Writers. The celebration was just a small taste of Quarrington?s incredible body of work in for the stage as well as film, tv, literature, music, education, journalism and more (Toronto, October 24, 2009). For more about Paul?s artistry visit his site at http:\/\/www.paulquarrington.org; to find out how you can extend support to more multidisciplinary artists, join the Quarrington Arts Society at quarringtonartsociety.ca

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Hal Wake: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 21, 2010

A whimsical tribute to Paul Quarrington by Hal Wake, Artistic Director of Vancouver International Writers Festival.? The interview was shot in Vancouver to screen during the Toronto live event “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts on behalf of International Festival of Authors and Humber College, Oct 24, 2009. For more about Paul artistry on page, screen and stage, visit the Press section of this website paulquarrington.org. To lend your support to the legacy of multi-disciplinary artists such as Paul, discover Quarrington Arts Society www.quarringtonartsociety.ca.

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Steven Hayward: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 21, 2010

A long-distance tribute by Steven Hayward to Paul Quarrington, shot in Colorado in preparation for screening at for the event “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts on behalf of International Festival of Authors and Humber College, Toronto, Oct 24, 2009. For more about Paul’s artistry on page, screen and stage, visit the Biography section of this site www.paulquarrington.org.?? To become a member of Quarrington Arts Society, visit the website at www.quarringtonartsociety.ca

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Rob Sanders: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 21, 2010

An authentic tribute by Greystone Books Publisher Rob Sanders, to Paul Quarrington, screened for the event Life in Music, Words, and on Screen; produced by BookShorts in celebration of Quarrington’s life and work during the International Festival of Authors in Toronto, Oct 24, 2009.For more about Paul’s artistry on page, screen and stage, visit paulquarrington.org

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Ben McNally: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

January 21, 2010

A cheeky tribute to Paul Quarrington by bookseller Ben McNally of McNally Books Toronto.? Shot for the event “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts for International Festival of Authors and Humber College, in celebration of Quarrington’s life and work Oct 24, 2009. To join the supporters of multi-talented artists visit Quarrington Arts Society at www.quarringtonartsociety.ca

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Peter Lynch: Video Telegram to Paul Quarrington

November 5, 2009

An insightful tribute by filmmaker Peter Lynch to Paul Quarrington, shot and screened for the live event in Toronto, Oct 24, 2009 “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts on behalf of International Festival of Authors and Humber College. Become a supporter of Quarrington Arts Society to help the secure a future for multi-disciplinary artists — www.quarringtonartsociety.ca.? For more about Paul’s artistry itself, visit the Biography section of this site paulquarrington.org

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Michael Ondaatje: Video Telegram for Paul Quarrington

October 27, 2009

A theatrical tribute to Paul Quarrington by Michael Ondaatje, shot and screened at the Toronto event October 24, 2009 – “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” – produced by BookShorts on behalf of the International Festival of Authors and Humber College. For more about Paul’s music inspired by Ondaatje’s mastery of the literary arts, visit the Music section of this site paulquarrington.org.? To help support the next generation of multi-disciplinary artists like Michael and Paul, become a member of Quarrington Arts Society, www.quarringtonartsociety.ca.

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Jim Cuddy: Video Telegram for Paul Quarrington

October 27, 2009

A sardonic but warm tribute to Paul Quarrington by music artist Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo.? This interview was shot for “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” a live event produced by BookShorts for International Festival of Authors and Humber College, in celebration of Quarrington’s life and work (Oct 24, 2009).?? Paul and Jim have worked together on many projects, including a special mini-documentary directed by Ron Mann for the Blue Rodeo anniversary DVD.? For more info about joining the Quarrington Arts Society, an organization committed to multi-disciplinary artists, visit quarringtonartsociety.org

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Richard Lewis: Video Telegram for Paul Quarrington

October 27, 2009

A comedic tribute to Paul Quarrington by Canadian actor / director Richard Lewis, shot on the Montreal set of Lewis’ next feature film, “Barney’s Version.”? The clip was shot to be screened at the live event “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts on behalf of Humber College and the International Festival of Authors, and took place in Toronto on Oct 24, 2009.? Richard was the director of Quarrington’s multi-award winning feature film WHALE MUSIC, adapted from the author’s own novel of the same name; Quarrington also penned the screenplay. In celebration of Quarrington’s life and work and as inspiration for more brave artists crossing genres, join the Quarrington Arts Society – info at www.quarringtonartsociety.ca .?

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Paul Quarrington

Paul Quarrington portrait

In May 2009, Paul was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. From May 2009 to January 2010 he channeled his prodigious creative energy into the completion of many artistic endeavours, including his first solo CD release “Paul Quarrington: The Songs,” the third PorkBellys Futures CD release, his memoir “Cigar Box Banjo: Notes on Music and Life” for Greystone Books, the documentary film “Paul Quarrington: Life in Music” (BookShorts / CTV Bravo) and so much more.

His brave journey ended on January 21, 2010. He passed peacefully at home in Toronto surrounded by friends and family.

The Quarrington Arts Society has been established in honour of the inspiration Paul’s life and work continues to provide for artists who seek expression in many disciplines – for information about the organization and its mandate, please visit http://www.quarringtonartsociety.ca

Paul Quarrington was a musician, acclaimed non-fiction writer and novelist, an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, and an educator extra-ordinaire.

His novel The Ravine (2008) was long-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize; his previous novel Galveston (2004) was short-listed for the Giller. Quarrington won the Stephen Leacock Award for King Leary, a title that also won the 2008 Canada Reads competition. Whale Music won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction and was one of several of his novels already adapted or currently being adapted as feature films.

His non-fiction writing includes books on some of his favourite pastimes such as fishing, hockey and music; his memoir Cigar Box Banjo: Notes on Music and Life, is published by Greystone Books (May 29, 2010). He regularly contributed book reviews, travel columns and journalism to Canada’s national newspapers and magazines, winning or co-winning more than 30 Gold awards. His screenplays and story editing won many awards, including the CFPTA Indie Award for Comedy for the series Moose TV.

Throughout his career he was in high demand as a story editor for Canadian and American feature films and television. Paul’s filmmaking talents as writer / director are evident in his BookShorts film, Pavane (2008), which he adapted from his novel The Ravine; it was featured in the national tour of Moving Stories Film Festival, won a Remi Platinum Award for adaptation at Houston’s WorldFest, was juried in several other US film festivals, and was broadcast in Canada on Bravo!FACT Presents and CBC Reflections.

As a musician, he played in the band Porkbelly Futures for more than ten years; the band’s first CD Way Past Midnight was extremely well received, their self-titled second CD was released to even more popular acclaim; and a third release will be available in 2010. From 2008, Paul increasingly returned to the performance circuit as solo vocalist on guitar; his first solo CD release “Paul Quarrington: The Songs” is available June 8, 2010 from Cordova Bay.

Paul taught creative writing at Humber College for more than 20 years (in the program founded by Joe Kertes, Quarrington and colleague Wayson Choy); he also taught at University of Toronto. His seminars on adapting books for the screen and creative writing were constantly presented by institutions and festivals in across Canada.

He sat on the Board of Directors for the Fringe Theatre Festival, and was mentor to BookShorts Inc. since the company’s first short film release (2005) through to the company’s production of Paul’s biographical feature documentary film Paul Quarrington: Life in Music (Dir. Bert Kish, for CTV Bravo) which will be broadcast May 29 and 30, 2010. Nipissing University bestowed him a Doctor of Letters PhD (posthumously) in June 2010.

Quarrington enjoyed his ranking as an (extremely) amateur magician and would-be mariner. He is survived by his two children, Carson Lara and Flannery Quarrington.

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