Paul Quarrington: A Life in Music, Words, and on Screen
October 29, 2009
On Saturday October 24, the IFOA at Harbourfront was host to a sold out event honouring Paul Quarrington’s incredible and illustrious life and career. Seen here with director Lorne Frohman, a veritable list of a Canadian who’s who made appearances live on stage, and via video telegram to send their love and respect to Paul, including Jim Cuddy, Roddy Doyle, Margaret Atwood, Paul Gross, Joe Hall and Nino Ricci to name just a few.
About the event, the National Post said:
“Just a few minutes into the International Festival of Authors tribute to author Paul Quarrington, host and friend Dave Bidini said that “by the end of the event you won’t want to hear a damn thing about Paul.” He was wrong.”
The Star said:
“Yes, there were many heartfelt expressions of admiration. But there was an even greater abundance of irreverent humour.”
CBC: Quarrington Wins $20,000 Matt Cohen Award
October 29, 2009
Toronto writer and musician Paul Quarrington has won the Matt Cohen Award, a $20,000 prize awarded by the Writers’ Trust of Canada.
The Matt Cohen Award ? In Celebration of a Writing Life is presented to a Canadian for a body of distinguished work in poetry or prose. It is named for the late Canadian author Matt Cohen and has been awarded since 2000.
Quarrington, 56, is author of the novels Whale Music, King Leary and Galveston and his most recent, The Ravine, as well as screenplays for Whale Music and Perfectly Normal.
King Leary was awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour in 1987 and won CBC Radio’s Canada Reads competition in 2008. Galveston was nominated for the Giller Prize in 2004.
Quarrington revealed in June that he is suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer.
This summer, he put his writing on hold while he toured the East Coast with his band, the Porkbelly Futures. Quarrington is a singer-guitarist with the blues-country group and recently recorded a solo album.
From the CBC News, October 19, 2009. For the full article, go to the CBC Website.
IFOA Report From The Walrus Magazine Blog
October 29, 2009
IFOA Report: Paul Quarrington at the Brigantine Room
Over the past few decades, Paul Quarrington has forged an unparalleled career as a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Saturday afternoon a sell-out crowd came to the Brigantine Room at Toronto?s Harbourfront Centre ? with some, including yours truly, relegated to the adjacent tent ? in order to celebrate the life and work of this remarkable artist.
Dave Bidini hosted the event, which saw an assortment of Quarrington?s friends and colleagues take to the stage in order to celebrate his work. Up first was Irish writer Roddy Doyle, who explained that he?d met Quarrington and grown to like him before ever reading his work. ?Which is just as well ? it?s shite!? From then on, despite Bidini?s claim to the contrary, the event took on the occasional air of a roast.
From the The Walrus Magazine Blog, October 27, 2009 by Nav Purewal. For the full article, go to The Walrus Blog.
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.
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
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 .?
Robert Lantos: Video Telegram for Paul Quarrington
October 27, 2009
A tribute to Paul Quarrington by filmmaker extraordinaire Robert Lantos,? captured on the set of his next feature, “barney’s Version.” The clip was created expressly for screening as part of the live celebration “Life in Music, Words, and on Screen” produced by BookShorts? on behalf of Humber College and the International Festival of Authors (Toronto, Oct 24, 2009). Mr. Lantos has become a seminal member of the Quarrington Arts Society — for more about this initiative to further the careers of multi-talented artists of page, screen and stage, visit www.quarringtonartsociety.ca
Quarrington Arts Society Launched
October 26, 2009
Toronto, ON (October 24, 2009) ? The launch of the Quarrington Arts Society was announced today by Michael Burke, President and CEO of Cordova Bay Entertainment Group Inc., at a celebration honouring its namesake, author and musician, Paul Quarrington.
The Quarrington Arts Society – QAS – was formed to encourage and promote artistic endeavor and achievement by Canadian artists and Canadian students of the arts who work or have worked in more than one artistic discipline. The award which may go to one or more, as determined by the directors of the organization, will recognize all or any of the following ? a single work, a group of works, a body of work or a career of lifetime of work
The concept was born 4 months ago by Paul, longtime friend and music partner Martin Worthy and Michael Burke to recognize and encourage artistic diversity. A legacy that will be a part of the Canadian artistic fabric for generations to come, the physical award visually represents, writing, music, film – the 3 tenets of Quarrington’s professional life and was designed by Victoria’s Michael Tension — also a musician and composer.
In addition to Paul Quarrington, initial contributors to the Society include, Cordova Bay Entertainment Group, Inc, Sea Change Corporation, Maple Music Ltd, Torrent Investments and a long list of friends and family.
Paul Quarrington was born on July 22nd of 1953 in Toronto, Ontario, the middle son of Bruce Joseph and Mary Ormiston, both psychologists. He spent his teen years in the suburb of Don Mills and attended the University of Toronto from 1970 to 1972. He is also a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre. Music was his passion from an early age, and in 1980, he and his long time friend Martin Worthy had a #1 single in Canada called ?Baby and the Blues?. Quarrington toured and recorded with the notorious Joe Hall and The Continental Drift and more recently with the Porkbelly Futures. Paul?s songwriting talents soon led to screenwriting, winning him Gemini nominations and Genie Awards for Perfectly Normal and Claire with the Rheostatics as well as the CFTPA Indie Award for Moose TV (Showcase).
In many ways, Quarrington hit his stride as an author. His novels The Ravine and Galveston were nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize; Whale Music won the Governor General?s Award for Fiction and King Leary won the Canada Reads competition and the Stephen Leacock Medal. This year he was awarded the prestigious Matt Cohen Award for his body of work. Quarrington is a frequent writer on television series and over the years has ventured into the graphic arts, creating several paintings of note.
A novelist, musician, screenwriter and non-fiction writer, Quarrington continues to tour and record with the Porkbelly Futures, is working on a solo recording with friends Dan Hill and Matthew McCauley, a documentary film (BookShorts/CTV Bravo!) following the themes in his new non-fiction book Cigar Box Banjo (Greystone Books) that is expected to be released in 2010, as well as a television series Notebooks on Euphoria for Shaftsbury Films/TMN and a script for the adaptation of Galveston with Peter Lynch.
In making the announcement, Burke noted ?Paul has a plethora of talent and has always exercised it. In a way, he is the ‘poster child’ for this society.” The first award will be given in 2010. For further information and to make a pledge , visit www.quarringtonartsociety.ca
Former Leacock Medal for Humour Winner recognized by museum
October 26, 2009
“Orillia’s Leacock Museum has established a literary chair to honour 1988 Leacock Medal for Humour winner and newly dubbed, “Canada’s Renaissance Man”, Paul Quarrington.
The Paul Quarrington Chair Fund salutes the contribution to the arts of author, writer, musician and filmmaker Paul Quarrington.
Each year, the museum will designate a writer as the Paul Quarrington Chair recipient and invite him/her to visit Orillia and participate in the annual Leacock Summer Festival. The fund will assist in offsetting the costs of hosting the annual winner including travel and accommodation.”
For the whole Orillia Packet and Times article and more information on how to donate, please go to the Packet and Times website.
Paul Quarrington to Receive Matt Cohen Award
October 19, 2009
PAUL QUARRINGTON NAMED RECIPIENT OF WRITERS’ TRUST OF CANADA
MATT COHEN AWARD
Presentation to be made at IFOA event in honour of Quarrington’s life and work
TORONTO, October 19, 2009 The Writers’ Trust of Canada has named Paul Quarrington the ninth recipient of the Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life. The award will be presented to Quarrington on Saturday, October 24 as part of the 30th anniversary International Festival of Authors (IFOA: Oct. 21-31, 2009).
The presentation of the Matt Cohen Award will be made by Patsy Aldana, following an introduction by Margaret Atwood, as part of Paul Quarrington: A Life in Music, Words, and on Screen, Saturday, October 24, 3pm, Harbourfront Centre. This licensed IFOA event includes readings and tributes from authors including Atwood, Roddy Doyle and Alistair MacLeod; from Quarrington’s film industry peers, including Paul Gross, who flies in from the set of Eastwick to deliver an on-stage tribute; and live music from the PorkBelly Futures, the Quarrington Trio, and a reunion of the Rheostatics. Dave Bidini hosts.
For information and to purchase tickets the public may visit <b>www.readings.org or Call the Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416-973-4000. Tickets are $15/$12 members/FREE students with ID (subject to availability).
About the Matt Cohen Award:
Valued at $20,000, the Matt Cohen Award is presented to a Canadian writer whose life has been dedicated to writing as a primary pursuit, in honour of a body of distinguished work in poetry or prose, in English or French. This year’s prize is made possible by a number of generous donors; a committee composed of Patsy Aldana, Graeme Gibson, and Wayne Grady selected the recipient.
Established in 2001 by the Writers’ Trust of Canada and a group of anonymous donors, this award is named in memory of Matt Cohen, winner of the Governor General’s Award for Fiction (Elizabeth and After, 1999) and a founding member of the Writers’ Union of Canada. Past recipients include Mavis Gallant, Norman Levine, and Marie-Claire Blais.
