All about Armand

The Biennale de Montréal opened last week amidst talk of funding cutbacks and gossip that the exhibition Agora: the Public Domain just isn't as good as expected. I heard various complaints about the lack of artists and that the exhibition locations are more impressive than the art. But the real focus of this Biennale isn't international contemporary art, but Quebec art legend Armand Vaillancourt, who has been making public art for the past 50 years.

The main location is the ex-Gazette building in Old Montreal (250 St-Antoine W.). The gigantic space where the presses once were is now rather oddly filled with various sculptures, installations and photographs of Vaillancourt's work. The presentation is neither clear nor particularly appealing, but rather serves as a backdrop for the larger-than-life personality of Vaillancourt himself. The artist (the guy pacing around with the long white hair and full beard) has moved into the cavernous space, brass bed and all, to live, rant and work for the duration of the exhibition. So, rather humorously, the highlight of a show about public art for me was the one-on-one private discussions with the artist: reinforcing the truth that what is important in public art is not location, but the interactions that happen with the viewers. For more info, see www.ciac.ca. » Christine Redfern

Eccentric avenue

If you think the red walls at the Green Room (5386 St-Laurent) are weird, you'll be whacked right out of your gourd by the goings on this Sunday, Oct. 3, when Art Bizarre, palling up with Pop Montreal, takes over the place and the Main Hall upstairs to boot. "We're aiming to create something a bit shocking," explains organizer Christine Lafontaine, whose noise rock outfit NWAR will form the sonic backdrop to a freak-o fashion show in a world of madness that includes photography, paintings, projections and installations. "Anything that could be considered out of the norm, weird, misplaced, is what we want," says Lafontaine. "The fashion part definitely won't be your typical runway setup - it's noisy and haunting." Along with fashion designers Yasmine Wasfy, Christie Dyball and Mybuu Ta, there'll be visual art from such oddballs as Colin, Joanna Rosciszewska, Nathalie Daoust, Jessie A. Sutherland and more. On the aural tip is Shalabi Effect, the Desert Fathers and Frivolous (who plays an electric knife). And, Lafontaine hints, if enough people show, there just might be some free food at the end of the night. More nuts, perhaps? » Matthew Woodley

Hollywood hack-up

Scathing social commentary through narrative shorts, documented pranks and amateur protest can all be found in this year's Lost Film Festival 8.0, currently touring the continent and going down locally at the Nest Artspace (3673 St-Dominique) this Friday, Oct 1. "This is about breaking the illusions cast by Hollywood and CNN," says festival director Scott Beibin. "You won't see these films at typical indie festivals." And he ain't lying neither. Most films being screened are under 15 minutes long, done on minuscule budgets, and genuinely reflect the visions of filmmakers not bound to producing expensive generic poopoo for Hollywood fat cats. In other words, a few of 'em might even be interesting. What a concept! » Chris Barry

Beatbox generation

Ever since his beatboxing skills got him an opening slot with Gramophone at the Medley, Quadraceptor (aka Lateef Martin, occasional Mirror freelancer) has kept busy. He's recorded tracks with international artists like Freeworm, Funkstorung and Amon Tobin, and this year he took part in the second international Human Beatbox Convention in NYC.

This Saturday, Quadraceptor takes the stage along with Klezmer hip hop artist SoCalled and reggae/beatbox maestro Matisyahu. "I play all my own instruments, I sing, do some spoken word, I rhyme a bit - it's a whole package, a one-man show," says the Quad. The show takes place Oct. 2, 9 p.m. at Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur), $10.

Pop Montreal also presents the dynamic Nah-ee-lah, appearing tonight, Sept. 30 at Balatou (4372 St-Laurent) at 11 p.m., $8. She's taking part, along with d'bi youngdub and many others, in the two-day free conference Mixing Pop & Politics, at the Just For Laughs Museum (2111 St-Laurent), Oct. 1–2. » Vincent Tinguely

Is it Art?

U-LOCK, U-LOUD: Kryptonite, king of bicycle locks, has made big news of late for its unlikely vulnerability to Bic, king of ballpoints. Thieves have discovered that the top of a standard-sized pen with the plug popped out fits the circular keyhole of many U-locks, and that means bye-bye bikey if your neighbourhood cycle-snatcher is wise to it. Well here's solution that will make some noise. The Cy-Curity bicycle alarm is a compact siren that fits under cycle seats and, when activated, sets off a 110-decible screech that should blend in nicely with the high-pitched urban cacophony already perpetuated by dickwads whose manicured Hondas bark incessantly for their masters. On the other hand, more ambient wailing could be better than a lousy ink stain where your bike used to be - $49.99 (U.S.), www.bicyclesecurity.com.

ArtsHole

DANCE AUTOPSY! Repetitive movements that bring to mind autism, paranoia and schizophrenia form the core of New Yorker Chris Yon's Teardrop Terror, a series of three cynical and humorous solos interpreted by Taryn Griggs at Tangente (840 Cherrier). The evening is rounded out by Marie-Pascale Bélanger's Un 2 sur le dos, a "dance autopsy" based on the theme of illness, Sept. 30–Oct. 2, 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 3, 4 p.m. • INTERVENTION CONVENTION: In conjunction with the Biennale, Artexte is hosting a four-day convention with artists' panels galore on interventionist and public art. Contemporary Art and Public Space continues until Oct. 2 at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance), www.artexte.ca for the full schedule.

ARTISTAT: Number of chalk sticks used by hundreds of children last Sunday, Sept. 26, at Place d'Youville, in creating what organizers hope might make the Guiness Book of World Records as the biggest chalk fresco in the world, with proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters: 1,200

>> Arts Listings