Illuminating industry

For the next month or so, when it gets dark in the evenings, you might want to head down to Old Montreal and stare at the huge Canadian Maltage building that dominates the waterfront. Local Alex Morgenthaler, well known as a lighting designer and multimedia artist, makes the imposing old silos the playing surface for his latest "light sculpture." Strobe, coloured and fluorescent lights fill the small huts and windows found high up at the top of the building, illuminating them as if they were a small village.

The event, entitled Obsolescence, is the first in a series planned by Quartier Éphémère paying homage to the Maltage building, the last example of clay silos still standing in North America. To enhance the public's awareness of the industrial heritage of this abandoned urban space, guided nocturnal visits will be lead by historian Pierre Malo (May 28, June 4 & 18). Also worth checking out are photographs and paintings inspired by the site by Anthony Dalterio, Scott MacLeod, David Miller, Diana Shearwood and Lorraine Simms on view at the Maison de la Culture Marie-Uguay (6052 Monk). Lights and exhibition run until June 18, info: 872-2044. » Christine Redfern

Horsing around

The streets of Montreal are full of old stables, most now converted into garages. The ghosts of horses past have inspired multi-disciplinary artist K.G. Guttman to create Sad Horses and Other Glitches in Time. A new solo work, created through an artist's residency, looks at how cars have now replaced horses and examines what Guttman calls the "glitch" between the present and the past. Her piece, which was inspired by poet Paul Célan, opens this weekend at dance space Tangente (840 Cherrier, 525-1500, $15) and runs until May 22.

Moving from horses to cash, UQÀM dance graduate Karine Denault shares the evening program with her group piece Sokrat, a choreography that focuses on the theme of money and its ubiquitous repercussions in society. » Marites Carino

Coach's corner

A passel of Coach House authors will be strutting their stuff and airing their wares tonight, Thursday May 19, at Pharmacie Esperanza, including Shannon Bramer, Stephen Cain, and Sherwin Tjia, who's just back from a gruelling four-city tour promoting his latest book, The World Is a Heartbreaker. It's a collection of what Tjia calls "pseudohaikus," concise poems without the requisite syllable-count. "I started out writing actual haikus," Tjia explains, "but then I wanted to play. Hopefully my pseudohaikus retain that haiku essence, that little shot of instant gratification."

The evening also features Corey Frost, fresh from his own barnstorming 25-city tour, and music by the super-talented duo of Amber Goodwyn and Erin Ross. At 5490 St-Laurent, 7:30 p.m. Free! » Vincent Tinguely

Visualize it

If you're inspired by the convergence of bodies and technologies, make sure to experience the world premiere of Immanence tonight, Thursday May 19 through Saturday, May 21 at the Monument-National (1182 St-Laurent). Vancouver choreographer Susan Kozel performs alongside five other artists from Mesh Performance Practices to present this collective work commissioned especially for Studio XX's seventh HTMlles Festival.

For the performance, the theatre seats have been removed and the space has been divided into four sections. Each area focuses on a different individual and computer visualization technique. Actor Helen Terry interacts with her avatar, which she generates using Vicon motion capture technology, a technology frequently used by the gaming industry. And dancer Tara Cheyenne uses medical visualization techniques to create an environment Kozel describes as "swimming in her own body."

Immanence is just one of a plethora of performances, workshops, Web sites, concerts, films and workshops that are happening all weekend across Montreal as part of HTMlles. Check out the complete schedule at: www.htmlles.net. » Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

ROCK OUT WITH YOUR CRAYON OUT: Inspired by a flyer idea cooked up by mad promoter Murad, artist Dan Buller, aka DSTRBO, created The Colour of Rock, a rock 'n' roll colouring book. The book consists of 14 drawings of various rock superstars, including David Bowie, Robert Smith, Joey Ramone, Patti Smith and Debbie Harry. Finally, a safe and fun rock-related activity for adults with no danger of liver damage, heroin overdose, unpleasant STDs or embarrassing burnout! The book is the first in a series of three volumes (the next edition will focus on local music luminaries, with volume three tentatively covering DJs and electronic musicians). Pick it up at Blizzarts (3956A St-Laurent) for $5, while supplies last.

ArtsHole

PAGING ASTERIX: Archeological museum Pointe-à-Callière (350 Place-Royale) displays over 200 artefacts from ancient France in its new exhibition Encounters in Roman Gaul, co-produced with two museums in France. It runs through Oct. 9. • ATHLETIC ART: Fittingly on display at the downtown YMCA (1440 Stanley), Dare-Dare's Expo-sport is a group exhibit of "propositions artistiques dans un contexte sportif." The show features works by Belinda Campbell, Manuelle Gauthier, Mathieu Latulippe, Frédéric Lavoie, Martin Lord, and zipertatou. It runs from May 21 to June 17. • E-VEIL: A new installation, Reframing, by Iranian-born artist Fariba Samsami, takes the form of a working photo booth that digitally adds a veil to your image. That's showing with Robyn Moody's goldfish life-support system Still at Articule (4001 Berri #105) until June 19.

ARTISTAT: Number of pieces on display in Éphémérides, un an, un dessin par jour, an exhibit of a year's worth of daily drawings by Élise Cropsal and Rafael Sottolichio: 720

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