Pulp friction

The first time I saw Brit choreographer Akram Khan take the stage back in 2003, I was mesmerized by how the fluidity of his velvety movements could instantly switch into staccato razor-edged ones. Of Bangladeshi descent, Khan grew up learning Kathak, a rhythmic Indian classical dance, before going on to study modern dance. Only in his early 30s, he’s already become known the world over for his hybrid choreographic style.

This weekend Khan returns with his company to Montreal to perform in ma, where he works with dancers and musicians and experiments with modes of storytelling through movement, music and text written by Hanif Kureishi (screenwriter of My Beautiful Laundrette). For this piece, Khan adopts a non-linear narration style, which he says was inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Catch the Canadian premiere May 4–6, 8 p.m., at le Centre Pierre-Péladeau (300 de Maisonneuve E.), $38, info: 987-6919. —Marites Carino

This is a Hold Up

Jason “Blackbird” Selman has been organizing Intimate Sky for a solid year—a series where artists drawn from Kalmunity and Nomadic Massive collaborate in duets, trios and on up. “The mandate was to challenge the artists and challenge the audience,” Selman explains.

Intimate Sky’s latest show is part of Hold Up Mental III, a two-day hip hop extravaganza. “This time it’s going to be groups of six or five—two or three vocalists with three musicians,” Selman says. “A kind of a mix-and-match, with one vocalist from Nomadic Massive in each set, and the rest from Kalmunity.”

Hold Up Mental III kicks off Friday, May 5, at 8 p.m., with a film by Maryse Legagneur, Chilean ensemble Entrama, and Intimate Sky, $10. Saturday’s show at 9 p.m. features Nomadic Massive and Obsesion, and MCs Foblaze and Monk-E. $15. All shows are at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance). —Vincent Tinguely

Positive id

As of this week, you have to be 18 in order to buy a fat marker or a can of spraypaint in London, Ontario. It’s just a coincidence, though, that a flock of the berg’s artists, all with strong graf roots, are headed our way for the weekend.

All card-carrying grown-ups by now, six Londoners, led by curator James “Thesis” Kirkpatrick, are taking part in A Hat and a House... Not Afraid Anymore, wherein the walls of Sub-V (5666 Sherbrooke W.) will be covered in masonite and arted up big time. The show also features Montrealers Jeremy Felker and Labrona and former miscreants from other places away, such as Detroit’s 27 and 7teen, and motorcycle wanderer Peter “Sampora” McCarron. Vernissage this Friday, May 5, 5–9 p.m., show continues for the rest of the month. —Matthew Woodley

Take this job and…

The glamorous life of being an artist! You get to work like a dog to create your artistic vision, tackle the endless grant and gallery submissions and work a low-wage but demanding second job to pay the bills. But don’t despair, the collective Au travail/At work is at Dare-Dare proposing a novel solution to the grind. They’re sending out an open invitation for all to join their collective and embrace their vision of turning the workplace into a laboratory for developing art and ideas. Drop by Dare-Dare’s trailer anytime, let At Work help you find a job, and start enjoying the communal approach to exhibiting and promotion. Come see what’s already been created on the job as members showcase their performances, music and videos every Friday night (except May 26) from 6–11 p.m. Every Saturday there are clinics and skill-sharing from 2–7 p.m. It runs until June 3 in Viger Square, info: 878-1088. —Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

WATER CRYSTALS AND YOU: “The common language that the people of the world have been seeking,” writes Japanese photographer and philosopher Masaru Emoto, “is found in water crystals.” Ten years ago, Emoto developed a frozen-water crystal photography, a revelatory breakthrough spawning theories you can discover in his books The Message from Water (vols. I and II), The Message from Life, What Water Tells Us, Water Knows the Answer (vols. I and II), Crystal Story, True Power of Water, The Shape of Love That Water Tells Us and Water Listens to Music. Now we’re one step closer to understanding the eternal theme of humanity, as Emoto’s Love Thyself: The Message from Water Vol. III (Hay House, $23.95) is now available in English. What are you wetting for?

ArtsHole

FEARLESS FACTORY: Having already built a machine designed to filter out the negativity of the Spanish Civil War and other carnages, one to produce civil rights and a system to purge the toxins poured into the Tamis river during the Yugoslavian war years, Spanish artist Jesùs Palomino stops into Galerie Clark (5455 Gaspé) this month to build a new machine—this one geared to purge us of our fears and fill us with courage. Check out Convertisseur de peurs/La fontaine de courage until June 17. • SMOOTH OPERATICS: The Montreal West Operatic Society presents the Gilbert & Sullivan classic, The Gondoliers, this weekend at the Parkhaven Auditorium (5785 Parkhaven, corner Côte-St-Luc), with all proceeds going to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Shows May 5, 8 p.m.; May 6, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and May 7 at 2 p.m., 990-8813 or www.mwos.org.

ARTISTAT: Approximate age of the oldest artefact on display at Japan, the Musée Pointe-à-Callière’s upcoming exhibition of pieces from Japanese prehistory, on loan from the Tokyo National Museum, running May 16–Oct. 16: 30,000

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