Kukamonga to go

Children's book publishers, printmakers, tiki-voodoo-rockabilly aficionados and all 'round good folk Felino turn the big one this month and egad are they on a roll.

"We've seen the concept evolve from a publishing idea into a contemporary arthouse," says company co-founder Coco Khan. "We get a really good response from the public with exhibitions, so publication has become secondary at this point."

What Khan really means is that the Europeans are frothing over their playful product, which, this fall, will travel to Berlin's Art Forum, the London Art Fair and Valencia's Galería Argenta. To kick off the tour and mark their anniversary, Felino are throwing a full-blown Kukamonga party ("A way of life that involves dancing," Khan explains) this Friday, Aug. 19, 9 p.m., at the new gallery/bar Macao (2070 St-Denis). Big art will be on hand by way of "Grafitikis" and "Psycoco prints," the Milky Ways man the turntables, and rumours of a one-of-a-kind Felino Birthday Box Set prize are afloat, so be there for midnight. » Matthew Woodley

Spreading the jams

A long-time lyricist and spoken word artist, both in his own right and as a member of Butta Babees, Stephen "Zip-Loks" Hennessy has a vision. "There are a lot of genres that excel, but two of my favourites are spoken word and hip hop," he says. "There are some artists who have incredible lyrical content, and sometimes that's overlooked." To cast a deserving spotlight on these lyrical talents, Zip-Loks has organized Spread the Wordz.

Next Thursday, Aug. 25, 9 p.m., is spoken word poetry night, featuring Montreal faves Kalmunity Vibe Collective, Motion from T-dot, storyteller supreme nth digri from Ottawa, and MTV2 VJ Amanda Diva. It's at El Salon (4388 St-Laurent).

Hip hop night follows on its heels, Aug. 26, 9 p.m., at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent). The evening will feature Brooklyn-based J-Live, El Da Sensei from New Jersey, Baby Blak from Philly, Verse from Toronto, Montreal's FP Crew and more. Tickets are $10 per show or both for $15. » Vincent Tinguely

A plethora of poets

Adeluge of word performances begins tonight, Aug. 18, with the global perspectives of Sri Lankan poet Krisantha Sri Bhaggiyadatta, launching his fifth collection, Cheqpoint in Heaven, at Café Sablo (50 St-Zotique E.) with Kaie Kellough, Zibz Black Current, Camisha and Katalyst, 8 p.m., $5.

Also tonight, Chicagoan Andrew Mall, Pittsburgh poetess Jessica Manack and T.O. novelist Kevin Hainey cavort at La Petite Gaule (2525 Centre, Charlevoix metro), pay what you can.

Tomorrow, Aug. 19, Them's Fightin' Words features Bay-area radical performance artist, polyamoury advocate and revolutionary activist-of-the-heart Wendy-O Matik with Megan Butcher and Alexis O'Hara turning up the heat at Café Esperanza (5490 St-Laurent), 8 p.m., also pay what you can. » Vincent Tinguely

Choreography chat

The Belgo Building's interdisciplinary dance space Studio 303 (372 Ste-Catherine W.) launched a new summer series this year but, instead of revolving around movement, words and ideas take the forefront in Artist Talks. Pop in any Monday until the end of the month for an intimate, informal Q&A session with members of the performing arts community, sharing insight on aspects of their craft.

Next up on Aug. 22, Guy Cools takes the floor to talk about his process and experiences over the years. The choreographer and dramaturge has worked in the dance scene for over two decades, mostly in Belgium, and has collaborated with contemporary choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Akram Khan.

The final gathering on Aug. 29 features Sylvie Lachance, general manager and artistic director of the MAI. Talks begin at 8 p.m., $5 a pop, info: 393-3771. » Marites Carino

Is it Art?

TISSUE ISSUES: 2001 was the year everything changed in the world of toilet paper, as longstanding brand Royale switched their name to Charmin, news casually broken by a couple of giggly teddy bears at the end of an ad, putting people into a heightened state of awareness for more shocks from the industry. So it may not come as such a surprise that Canada's best-selling TP, Cottonelle is also undergoing a transition and will soon be known only as Cashmere. To spread the word of their "luxurious new approach to bathroom tissue," the toilet paper company is launching The White Cashmere Collection 2005, a sumptuous suite of exclusive couture from eight of Canada's top fashion designers, including our own Philippe Dubuc. Don't say we didn't tell ya first.

ArtsHole

THREAD HEADS TAKE NOTE: This weekend is the last chance to catch the works of American textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen at the Museum of Fine Arts, featuring 30 of his most important designs and over 80 works from other artists that he has collected. It continues until Aug. 21. • BEAUTY, POWER, ETC: Ralph Hage plays on the abuse of power, religion and chauvinism through symbolic, digitally created tableaux, while Ralph Klein references TV and comics through surreal characters in the loud group exhibition Beauty Is Hard to Define and Power Is Elusive, continuing at La Fabriq (4467 Earnscliffe) until Aug. 28.

ARTISTAT: Number of screenings, seminars and more at this weekend's Visible Evidence XII, an international, interdisciplinary conference focusing on the "role of film, video and other media as witness and voice of social reality," at Concordia University, Aug. 21–25, www.visibleevidence.org for more: 50+

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