Look at what’s happening at Gabriola Elementary School during the Isle of the Arts Festival!

Isle of the Arts School Workshop Program

The Isle of the Arts Festival Kick-off Event

Dede Crane | Roger Farr | Bill Gaston | George Szanto | Hosted by Susan Yates

What goes better with a hearty ale, a light lager, or an intriguing IPA than a heaping helping of literary delights. Combine your favourite hops-and-barley beverage with one of four outstanding authors, throw in a serving—or many servings!—of traditional, delectable pub-style provisions, and you’ve got the recipe for an entertaining evening. The Surf Pub—one of the best spots on Gabriola to watch the sun go down—is the ideal setting for this wine-pairing-with-a-twist event (Wine will be available for those who prefer grapes to hops.). Co-sponsored by Poetry Gabriola.

Dede Crane is the author of the novel Sympathy, the short story collection The Cult of Quick Repair, and YA novels Poster Boy and The 25 Pains of Kennedy Baines. She is a two-time finalist for Victoria’s Butler Book Prize. Her new novel, Every Happy Family, was released in April 2013.

Described as “a poet of great heart and aesthetic/political commitment,” Roger Farr is author of Surplus, Means, and—most recently—IKMQ, a finalist for the 2013 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. As a cultural critic, his writing on radical social movements, media, childhood and the avant-garde has appeared in numerous literary and “movement” periodicals, and has been broadcast on the airwaves of several pirate radio stations. He teaches in the Creative Writing and Culture and Technology Programs at Capilano University.

Bill Gaston has been nominated for every major Canadian literary award. The Globe and Mail said: “[Gaston’s] writing is gentle, humorous, absurd, beautiful, spiritual, dark and sexy. He deserves to dwell in the company of Findley, Atwood and Munro as one of this country’s outstanding literary treasures. His new novel The World is nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Award.

George Szanto grew up in Ireland, England, and the United States, and has taught at Harvard, the University of California San Diego, and McGill University, where he is professor emeritus. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1988. A writer of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, George published his 20th book, Bog Tender, in March 2013.

Susan Yates is a former librarian, current social activist and life-long bibliophile.

Thursday April 25 | 6 pm | Surf Pub
$40 (includes admission and hearty portions of the chef’s recommended beers (or wine) and pub fare | 19 years and older

Thanks to Poetry Gabriola for their support for this event.

GAC is accepting nominations for the ARTY 2013 Award Winner. Which person OR event has made the greatest contribution to the arts scene on Gabriola in the past twelve months? Drop your nomination form in the box upstairs at Artworks, or send an email to info@artsgabriola.ca. Last year’s winner was Jim Wilson-Storey, fearless Director of the Gabriola Theatre Festival. The winner of the inaugural ARTY was Kathy McIntyre for her intrepid and dedicated work as GAC Administrator. Who will take home the coveted trophy in 2013?