Punk docs

Parked in Viger Square, the Video Paradiso bus offers street kids and people under 30 with limited means a valuable ticket to self-expression. Complete with high-tech audio and video recording and editing suites, the bus is driven by a young team of filmmakers who provide a platform for the youth to work hands-on in the realization of their own music demos, video clips or documentaries. And all this for free.

"We want to give those who don't have the means to use professional equipment the chance to do so," explains Marie-Lou Gagnon, a social worker promoting the project. "And, of course, we want to motivate youngsters into doing something stimulating rather than just hanging out aimlessly."

This mobile creation space, a three-year pilot masterminded by director Manon Barbeau, is now growing in its second week of its second year. To embark on your own project, just show up at Viger Square between 1 and 9 p.m. on weekdays. The bus departs for Quebec City on May 6, but will return to Montreal later in June. » Nancy Laforest

Human energy fields explored

Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) was one of those brilliant minds who created in the fertile invention period at the end of the 1800s. A contemporary of Edison and Bell, he held more than 700 patents, most famously for the electromagnetic motor, and was a chief mind behind the invention of the radio before ultimately having problems with mental illness and dying penniless.

Inspired by Tesla, the exhibition Resonance, the Electromagnetic Bodies Project opened last weekend at Oboro (4001 Berri, #301) and Occurrence (460 Ste-Catherine W., #307). Paulette Phillips' two pieces "Homewrecker #1" and "#2" are humorous twists on the energy fields existing between individuals. "#1" is a hovering hanky, held in space by magnetic force; "#2" is a charged visual image of gravity-defying long hair and other attractive forces. The exhibition also includes interesting work by AElab, Catherine Richards, Norman White and four other artists. It's worth checking out, but somehow in the end it falls short of stimulating the reaction of wonder and disbelief that accompanied Tesla's work and ideas. Runs until May 14, info: 397-8974 or 847-0330. » Christine Redfern

Eco acoustics

Montreal performers Neema and François Turgeon make gloriously hybrid art. "There were some pieces I'd written that didn't seem like songs to me, so I started reading them and practicing them as spoken pieces," Neema explains. "A lot of my spoken word things have music under them created by myself and François."

Neema and Turgeon are playing at Acoustique Nature, a fundraiser for Trois-Pistoles' third annual Échofête. "It's a music festival with workshops all day on environmental issues," says Neema. "My lyrics are often socially-slash-politically oriented, so I believe in supporting causes that are important to me." Also appearing are Donald Charles, Ivy & Ado Tchamo, and Marco Calliari. Friday, April 22, 9 p.m. at Pub le Saint-Ciboire, (1693 St-Denis), $7. Info: www.neema.ca. » Vincent Tinguely

Bird takes flight

The first time I saw Sarah Chase perform, I was immediately swept off into the world of images she built with words, intimate stories brought to life through movement. The Toronto-based choreographer and dancer calls herself a storyteller, saying memory is the motivating force behind her creations.

Take her new piece Bird, which opens this week at Agora de la danse (840 Cherrier). The solo looks back at an event that occurred more than 150 years ago in a Toronto park near Chase's home of eight years. While doing research for a conference, Chase came across accounts of a massive flock of passenger pigeons that littered the skies for three days. Using these images, she intermingles tales of the past with stories from residents now living in the area. Composer/musician Bill Brennan joins Chase on stage for the performance, which runs to April 30 at 8 p.m. Info: 525-7575. » Marites Carino

Is it Art?

HIGHWAY CHILL: So you're driving down the highway, it's a sunny day, CCR's cranked on the radio and the world's your oyster. All of a sudden, some dick-knob in his dickmobile cuts you off and near forces you into a ditch. Road Rage! Here's an easy out: Road Rage Relief, a gadget that tells funny, kid-friendly bad-driver insults at the push of a button. Next time you almost die because of someone else's idiocy, simply contain your anger for the amount of time it takes to reach into your glove compartment and find the thing under all the crap that's in there, push the button and take Exit H for hilarity. $10.95 (U.S.) at www.ultradatasystems.com.

ArtsHole

WINDOW GAZING: Local artist Andrea Vander Kooj has been mixing body decoration, adornment and exhibitionism in several storefront windows this week, painstakingly embroidering in Jacobean Blackwork designs from a henna pattern temporarily tattooed onto her body. As one pattern fades, another is created, saying something, she hopes, about display, desire and the female body. From April 21–26, Vander Kooj will spend her days, respectively, at La Centrale, Mojo, Scandale, Coiffure Modish and Les Brodeuses. • BLOWUP MOVES ON: This is the last week that socially active photojournalism gallery BlowUp will occupy its space in the Tour de la Bourse (800 Victoria), thus the final chance to check out the often-arresting international imagery they have on display. Here's hoping the gallery finds a new home soon.

ARTISTAT: Number of writers participating in the free two-day inaugural bash that rings in Montreal as the 2005–06 World Book Capital, April 23–24, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Place des Arts, www.mcml.canoe.com for info: 200+

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