Jason Quick has lived in The Pacific Northwest since his birth in 1971 and juggles family, career, and community involvement from his home in Bellingham, Washington.
Jason lost his right arm at age 6 after accepting a dare to climb into an electrical substation. He was rescued by the Bellingham Fire Department Paramedics and rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where his arm was amputated and his burns were treated. He then recuperated at Children's Hospital where he immediately began to entertain the nurses and his fellow patients.
After the accident, Jason attempted to resume normal activities in school and quickly realized that "normal" wouldn't be the same ever again. Jason had to learn how to deal with teasing and bullying as well as learning how to do everything that a kid needs to do, but with one arm instead of two.
Jason played nearly every sport and spent many hours practicing to show his friends that he could do anything that they could do. He practiced Baseball, Tennis, Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Soccer and Cross Country Running in order to find the mastery that would allow him to share in the joy of being accepted as part of the team. During his school years, Jason also spent a lot of solo time practicing juggling and unicycle and in these arts he found that he had skills that were not normal but extraordinary.
Jason Quick, M.A.
360-393-2272
Jason juggling while balanced atop a handrail during a performance for a Bellingham Parks and Recreation event.
Since then Jason has juggled himself into many different roles that give depth to his performances as well as his counseling work. Jason has three degrees, an AAS, BS, and MA, and has taught in various capacities including preschool, kindergarten, grade school PE, Middle and High School Workshops, and with groups of teachers as well teaching Circus Arts Camps for many Parks and Recreation departments. Jason is the father of a teenage daughter and enjoys soccer, ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, bicycling, welding, and building circus equipment.
In performance, Jason addresses big questions at the same time as making the audience laugh. Who are we? What are we? Is there meaning and purpose in our lives? What can we do to feel more alive, more useful, and more satisfied with our contributions to community and at the same time feel supported, cared for, and loved? What are our limits and are they as solid as they seem sometimes? Somebody has to ask these questions with confidence, clarity, and comedy.
Jason has been juggling for schools, libraries, festivals, and other public and private events around Washington for the last 15 years. These shows bring up big questions but they are mostly about finding joy in whatever you do and sharing that joy with everyone. There is a playful quality to these performances that makes them fun for Jason as well as the audience. Juggling bowling balls is Jason's symbolic way of tackling the impossible to set an example for those who watch.
Now, Jason is expanding his performance focus to include a wider range of audiences around the Northwest and across the country.
quickjuggler@yahoo.com
