Al Purdy update

(image courtesy James Walke)

Check out this beautiful sculptural bust of Al Purdy by James Walke. James works (and lives) at Black Locust Studio, not far from Purdy's birthplace (Wooler, Ontario). The sculpture is one of many fundraising items offered to the Al Purdy A-Frame Trust in their effort to raise enough money to preserve Purdy's old A-Frame on Prince Edward County.

Here's a map to Al's old neighbourhood, if anyone is interested in seeing the A-Frame up close:


View Ameliasburgh -- lilac season in a larger map

And, of course, for those in and around Toronto, come down to the Lakeside Terrace at Harbourfront this evening to help celebrate the launch of the Al Purdy A-Frame Anthology.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets to the event are $8.00. Call 416-973-4000 for more information, or check out the Facebook event page.

Al Purdy anthology launch and fundraiser

(image courtesy the A-Frame Trust)

I am happy to be helping out the Al Purdy A-Frame Anthology with their Toronto fundraiser. They are holding a get-together/public party/anthology launch/silent auction in two weeks time (Wednesday, November 18th) with a great line-up of special guests who will reminisce, read and entertain on the subject of the late great Al Purdy and his wonderful little cottage on Prince Edward County near Belleville, Ontario. Guests include Dennis Lee, Michael Ondaatje, Steven Heighton, Dave Bidini, Paul Vermeersch, Russell Brown and Geoff Heinricks, among others. This all takes place in the Lakeside Terrace at Harbourfront.

My job will be to introduce these luminaries and keep the stage show moving. Also, I will be directing people to the washrooms and bar.

This worthy event has been organized by the Al Purdy A-Frame Trust, which is trying to raise enough money to buy the Purdy cottage and preserve it as a culturally historical site and a writing retreat centre.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets to the event are $8.00. Call 416-973-4000 for more information, or check out the Facebook event page.

have a Purdy weekend -- because it's very important

It being (almost) lilac season here in the lower parts of the province, now might be a good time to discover what all the fuss is about concerning Al Purdy's A-Frame cottage in Ameliasburgh. As you may have heard, there is a movement to have the house preserved as an historical cultural site, poetry centre and residency. Get all the details about that project at the Save Al Purdy's House website.

While reading about the little house is good, actually visiting Ameliasburgh in the springtime is even better. Because this time of year when you step out of the car "the whole world smells of lilacs/ the whole damn world"

from May 23, 1980 by Al Purdy

I have grown old
but these words remain
tell her for me
because it’s very important
tell her for me
there will come one May night
of every year that she’s alive
when the whole world smells of lilacs

On the other hand, you might want to postpone your trip to Prince Edward County until later this month, when you can also take advantage of the Prince Edward County Author's Festival at Books and Company in Picton.


View Ameliasburgh -- lilac season in a larger map

oh, Al

Some jokester left the statue of Al Purdy a present the other day. It's nice to see, at least, that people are interacting with poetry in time-honoured ways.

A free, original, seasonal poem-card by yours truly will be mailed to the first person who can tell me the title of the book Al is holding in his right hand.