99 models of
queer on the wall

If you have been feverishly searching the city for where to find a copy of Handbook of the Junior Lesbian Ranger, relax. It is part of the exhibition PAPERWALL: analYZING IMAGES now on at la Centrale (4296 St-Laurent). This exhibition brings together queer posters, zines and videos from across North America. The works are your classic underground gig posters that are usually viewed plastered on downtown streets in every city. Here, some of the best of the genre include locals Lesbians on Ecstasy, New York’s le Tigre and a slew from Toronto’s Vazaleen nights at Lee’s Palace. Some of the zine highlights include, Man, I Feel Like a Woman, Gender Trash and Lorri Millan and Shawna Dempsey’s LIFE magazine spoof, A Day in the Life of a Bull-Dyke. There’s no shortage of printed material to check out, as well as videos and films, so stop by and enjoy it when you have some time. Exhibition prolonged until April 30, info: 871-0268. —Christine Redfern

House party howls

It was 50 years ago this month that San Francisco’s Lawrence Ferlinghetti published Howl, by Allen Ginsberg, and turned the poetry world on its ear. Tonight’s show at Théâtre Lachapelle is a celebration of the work of the popular City Lights publisher, poet and bookseller. “His poetry is not only still very topical, but also they’re easy to do as readings,” explains organizer Byron Toben. “We’re looking upon it as a jazz event—like a big house party.” The line-up includes Catherine Kidd, Laura Mitchell, Fortner Anderson, Patrick Goddard, Keir Cutler, Tom Fox, Ian Ferrier, Stan Asher, Pierre Lenoire and Anna Furstenberg—with jazz by Paul Serralheiro and his group, drummer Eduardo Pipman and Bryan Highbloom. That’s tonight, April 20, 7:30 p.m., at Théâtre Lachapelle (3700 St-Dominique). Admission is a voluntary donation to Santropol Roulant.

And don’t miss the 50th anniversary reading of “Howl” by an array of Montreal poets at Words and Music at the Casa, Sunday, April 23, 9 p.m., 4873 St-Laurent. $5. —Vincent Tinguely

New road for Maisonneuve

Montreal-based magazine Maisonneuve is going through a renaissance of sorts: branching in, if you will, and centring their lens exclusively on this city. And if you fancy yourself a writer, critic, humourist, translator, visual artist, photographer, illustrator or designer with your ear to the ground of this here town, they’d like to know about you. Interested parties should send a cover letter specifying areas of interest, a CV, a list of publications and at least three clippings, images or samples of your work to submissions@maisonneuve.org or visuals@maisonneuve.org. Make sure to put “City Magazine” in the subject line. —Matthew Woodley

Shades of Afghanistan

For the past 23 years, Manijeh Ali has called Montreal home, but in 2003, a position with the U.N. brought her back to her birthplace of Afghanistan for the first time since she fled the war-torn country in the early 1980s. That reunion with her country’s landscape spurred the inspiration for a new work that shares the intense feelings of solitude, intimacy and ecstasy she lived during her voyage.

The expressive Ali, who has training in West African and classical Indian dance, tells her tales through choreography in Spirit of the Mountain, a solo that uses photo projections and poetry. Tabla player Shawn Mativetsky provides the on-stage rhythms at Studio 303 (372 Ste-Catherine W., #303) April 21 at 8 p.m. and April 22–23 at 5 p.m., $15. Info: 521-1634. —MARITES CARINO

Is it Art?

REVELATION REWARD: For many years, many people have been trying to come up with the meaning of life. Now the people at TheMeaningofLife.com are offering extra incentive, by way of $10,000 U.S., to finally nail it down. The rules are simple: 25 words or less and original—no famous quotes. This isn’t a joke. You could win this money and, as a bonus, if you do, we’ll publish your winning existential dictum in this space. For $10,000. Just kidding. For free. In addition to the cash give-away, TheMeaningofLife.com offers online articles and resources pertaining to life’s purpose in a free weekly e-mail called the “E-luminator” and a “Meaning Makeover” session with founder Adam Christing (who’s also head of an entertainment booking company called Clean Comedians, with the motto, “It doesn’t have to be filthy to be funny.”) E-mail your meaning of life submissions to lisa@themeaningoflife.com.

ArtsHole

BENEVOLENT SNAPS: In celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 23–29, the very generous artist Arial Tarr presents her photo series Free Time: Volunteers in Motion. Over a year, Tarr shot volunteers at organizations including the Douglas hospital, the Yellow Door, Entraide Bénévole Métro, Herstreet and the Ecomuseum, offering close-up takes on the motivation behind their benevolence. It opens today, April 20, 5 p.m., at the Downtown YMCA (1440 Stanley), and continues until May 14. • STUFF, SKEWED: Two cars cast from aluminium foil are just some of the crazy creations you’ll find at the Saidye gallery (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine) exhibition of works from Vancouver art-team Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky between April 27–June 18. Others include similar representations of staples, coffee cups, shopping carts and flags.

ARTISTAT: Number of gardens in the works for this summer’s International Flora Montreal event, a $9-million horticultural extravaganza taking place in the Old Port’s Parc des Écluses between June and October: 30+

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