Al Purdy
“So we built a house, my wife and I
our house at a backwater puddle of a lake
near Ameliasburg, Ont….”
Al Purdy
From “In Search of Owen Roblin”
Tickets are now on sale for The Al Purdy Show on February 6, 2013 at 7:30pm. It promises to be a fun evening of poetry and music to benefit the restoration of Al Purdy’s former residence, the A-Frame. The show will take place at Koerner Hall – The TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning – 273 Bloor Street West in Toronto.
Al Purdy and his partner Eurithe began building the A-Frame cabin on the shores of Roblin Lake, in Prince Edward County, in 1957. It was here that Purdy came into his own as a poet, and the A-Frame became a gathering place for many of the writers who would shape Canadian literature. Over their 43 years at the A-Frame, Al and Eurithe hosted Margaret Laurence, Milton Acorn, Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood and hundreds of others in the writing and arts community.
Proceeds from the evening will support the Al Purdy A-Frame Association’s efforts to conserve the late poet’s home and to maintain it as a place for writers to come together and work for years to come. Ticket prices start at $25.00
“This event is a true celebration of one of the most popular and important Canadian poets of the 20th century,” said Jean Baird, President of the Association. “Al loved hanging out with people, talking about poetry and having a good time. We want the evening to capture this spirit. Plus, we have some nifty surprises planned that would make Al chuckle.”
Highlights of The Al Purdy Show will include readings from Margaret Atwood, Ken Babstock, George Bowering, Dionne Brand, Michael Enright, Phil Hall, Steven Heighton, Dennis Lee, Gordon Pinsent, and Karen Solie, as well as musical guests, Bidiniband with The Billie Hollies, The Skydiggers and other Friends of the A-Frame.
“This event will be very exciting for Purdy fans,” said Jean Baird. “Eurithe Purdy has donated books and other items from Al’s personal collection for auction.”
Many items have never before been available to the public, including Purdy’s signed and numbered editions of his own books, rare first editions by other poets, and original artwork from Leonard Cohen. Book-lovers, mark your calendars!
To date, over $220,000 dollars has been generously donated by writers, poets, publishers, academics, students, booksellers, librarians and lovers of literature, and most notably, Eurithe Purdy,” said Jean Baird.
In October, 2012, the property was acquired by The Al Purdy A-Frame Association a national non-profit organization. As part of its mandate to promote Canadian literature and Canadian writers, the Association’s first goal is to preserve the home as a work retreat for future generations of writers.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 416-408-0208 or visit alpurdy.ca
Leave a Reply