Out of the hole

As a musician and favourite daughter of our fair city, Melissa Auf der Maur needs little introduction, but her photography career is another thing. “It’s something I’ve been steadily neglecting for 10 years now,” she says over the phone from rural Ontario, where she’s recording her second solo album. The last time the artist (who majored in photography at Concordia before being whisked into the world of rock) took a shot at a visual show was at Brooklyn’s Secret Gallery in 2001—September 9, to be precise. Two days later the space was closed down due to the madness in the city. Five years later, the same short-lived exhibition is seeing the light of day again at O Patro Vys (356 Mont-Royal E.)

Channels is a trip through Auf der Maur’s late-night life, mostly while on tour with Hole. Not parties, though, but pictures she took of what was on TV in her hotel room. “It doesn’t necessarily reflect the stuff I usually do,” she explains. “That would be more portraits, family, a friend crying... so what’s a sentimental gal like me doing taking pictures of TV? But this was for a modern gallery in Brooklyn and I chose the more clinical, cold stuff that I had. But it creeps into a vulnerable moment with loneliness rotating into absurdity because it’s late-night TV—everything from porn to evangelical preachers to strange infomercials. It’s pretty demented stuff.” Vernissage May 3, 6–9 p.m., show continues until May 30. —Matthew Woodley

Double trouble

If it was just too cold for you to check out the BGL show at Art Mûr last January–February, I have some good news to share with you. The Quebec City trio is back in town messing with our views about art and gallery space, this time at Optica (372 Ste-Catherine W., #502). The show is billed as featuring four large-scale laminated photos under Plexiglas, but don’t believe everything you read. Yes, there will be images of installations they created for Pierre Lapointe’s latest CD, as well as from their melting Darth Vader installation that graced Hart House in Toronto earlier this month. But no, you can be sure they won’t just hang four pieces on the existing walls and collect their cheque. Also on view in Optica’s multidisciplinary gallery are two new videos that explore a world of ghosts and doubles by the engaging and quirky Montreal artist Daniel Olson. Vernissage tomorrow at 5 p.m. Exhibitions run until June 3, info: 874-1666. —Christine Redfern

Sculpture jamming

The Vancouver-based artist duo Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky are busy casting two cars out of aluminium foil at the Saidye (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine). This twist on ready-made sculpture might seem at first glance like a failure. The thin aluminium skins collapse in on themselves without a body beneath them. Yet the results are both creepy and effective. Also on view are a series of banal and amazing everyday objects (Styrofoam cups, chicken buckets) constructed from resin, plaster and wood. Two upcoming events: a panel discussion on contemporary sculpture (May 4, 6 p.m.) and even more intriguing, Dr. Harvey Giesbrecht considers the relation of art and psychoanalysis (May 18, 6 p.m.). Opens tonight, exhibition runs until June 18, info: 739-2301. —Christine Redfern

Now that’s transgendertainment

What do you get when you bring together a rock guitar player, a songwriter/comedian, an author/painter, a poet/storyteller, a chamber musician and a couple of zinesters… and they happen to all be transgendered? Why, the Tranny Roadshow, of course.

“Trans issues are pretty political and academic, and one of the things we’re doing with this show is trying to make them fun,” says Jamez Terry, co-organizer of the east coast travelling variety show, which appears Friday, April 28, 9 p.m., at the Lighthouse (930 Champagneur). “It deals with serious subjects but it’s not a serious show.”

The troupe will add some local flavour to the mix with performer Mackenzie MacBride’s unique piano glam-rock lounge act. “It’s nothing like anything the rest of us do!”

The show isn’t exclusively for trans people; according to Terry, “It’s a raucous evening of entertainment, open and accessible to people of all backgrounds.” Tickets are $10. For information, check out www.trannyroadshow.org. —Andrea Zanin

Is it Art?

STAND AND DELIVER: When it comes to urination, evolution has definitely given women the short end of the stick. So short, in fact, that they have to sit down to pee, and there’s nothing convenient about that on the way home from the bar. Thankfully, somebody clever has come up with a solution for shafted women the world over—namely, a fake shaft. Pee-Zee is a cone-shaped plastic device that women can simply slip in their zipper, place under the out hole, and let ’er rip, just like the boys do. It’s the perfect thing for nasty public toilets, outdoor concerts, snowboarding, scientific field research, and any other time you’re just not hot to squat. Pee-Zee comes in seven colours, and sells for the re-dicklessly cheap price of 12 bucks. No known stores in Montreal carry the product yet, but it’s available for order at http://pee-zees.tripod.com/index.html.

ArtsHole

FASHION FIESTA: Frip with a conscience La Gaillarde (4019 Notre-Dame W.) unveils 11 new eco-collections, all products of local designers, that mix romantic, chic, new age bohemian and avant-garde glam into one crazy cocktail party/fashion show of recycled hotness. Nouvelle Griffe Printemps/Été 2006 is this Friday, April 28, 8 p.m., free. • SMUT AND SWEAT: Annual pansexual smut zine Lickety Split teams up with the dance genius behind The Goods for a hip hoppity launch this Saturday, April 29, 10 p.m., $10, at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent). Issue #3, claims Amber Goodwyn, is the most thrilling, picture-filled issue yet. Afterparty at Red Bird Gallery (152 Van Horne).

ARTISTAT: Number of garments on display at what LaSalle College is calling the largest fashion show event in the country, Signature 2006, which features designs from 150 graduates, May 7 at the Parc Olympique, 790-1245: 300

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