Different shades of spray

Forget spray paint, today’s 15-year-old graffiti stars in the making were still eating delicious crayons when Under Pressure first began in the mid-’90s, and that’s why the festival is taking a “back to basics” approach, as co-organizer Jordan Berlin puts it. “We want to re-connect with a younger crowd. A lot of people see Under Pressure as an old boys’ club that they’re not really a part of, and we want everyone to feel included. We want the festival to have the same spirit that it did a decade ago—it’s a community jam for people of all ages.” As such, you can expect a few younger crews on the scaffolding than usual, alongside experienced artists from all over the world, joining the DJs, MCs, skaters, breakdancers and the throngs who come to take it all in, which they’ll do in the parking lot behind the Metropolis during day two of the festival this Sunday, Aug. 13, all day long, before it all moves into Foufounes for the afterparty. Check out www.underpressure.ca for all the info. —Matthew Woodley

Kama chameleon

From the saturated vibrancy of comic book art to the classic simplicity of the Kama Sutra, from Vietnam to the “war on terrorism,” Icelandic artist Érro co-opts and juxtaposes distinctive styles to create kaleidoscopic imagery mired in politics.

“It’s his messages that intrigue me so much,” says Bernadette Rusgal, who has launched her in-home galleriagalerie with a show of Érro’s lithographs. Though his Mao series and American icon works are represented, it’s Érro’s comix art that dominates the exhibit. Some of his action heroines, borrowed from sources such as folklore, TV and DC Comics, sport heavy artillery that suggests they’re not necessarily here to save the day.

The 74-year-old artist, who divides his time between France, Spain and Thailand, has always incorporated art history, contemporary politics and pop into his work, creating post-modern art prior to post-modernism, with socio-political commentary that continues to resonate.

“He was always ahead of his time, and that’s what I admire most about him,” says Rusgal. Visit her downtown trovartista by appointment, by contacting 836-7406 or bernadette.rusgal@utoronto.ca. —Lorraine Carpenter

An ego thing

It’s doubtful that Freud ever thought his concepts of id, ego and super ego would spawn a choreography, but they did. Montreal choreographer Andrew Giday takes these three elements as the driving force for his new trio, which he says “strives for a balance between the childlike aspect of our personalities and the rigid aspects of our personality and tries to blend those two together to create the ego ideal.”

Giday’s company Da-Da-Danse will be premiering Ego Idéal at the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur this weekend. During the performance, co-collaborator, painter and psychotherapist Lynda Schneider Granatstein will be on stage painting during the performance. Pop in next door at the Gallerie Art Québecois to take in an exhibit of her works inspired by the choreography.

Showtime is Aug. 11 at 6 and 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage, free. Need directions? Call (450) 227-0427 or go to www. artssaintsauveur.com for directions. —Marites Carino

Crimes of fashion

After peeking through the windows at Pierre Ayotte’s photo exhibition Hardwear: Fetish Calendar Girls at the Green Room (5386 St-Laurent), I realized I didn’t have much to say about the leather-clad gals holding power tools. Instead, I decided to head across town and check out some images that really touch on issues of clothing and power.

The informative exhibition Women Living Under Muslim Law is set up in the main foyer of the downtown YMCA (1440 Stanley). Presented by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and Rights & Democracy, it presents a brief history of Muslim women’s clothing and, by extension, their rights and freedoms. The show is a fascinating look at how the dress code for Muslim women has changed over the past century. Much of the clothing is beautiful and functional, from Pakistan’s shalwar kameez to Northern Nigeria’s bubas. But the images are weighty, especially the ones of women with covered faces. As the show presents it, the current trend for many Muslim women governed by laws and customs “said to derive from Islam” is an increased coverage of the female body, decreased visibility of women in the public sphere and decreased mobility outside the home. It runs until Aug. 24. —Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

HIGH ON AEROSOL: There’s a new way for graffiti artists to paint big without scaffolding, ladders, fire-escapes or whatever else is around to prop oneself up on. Granted, the High Writer doesn’t seem too efficient for detail work, but it sure makes a throw up go up fast. The device is simple in concept: a long pole with a handle that activates the nozzle attached to a spray can way up at the other end of the pole. Making one’s a bit more complicated, but DIY’s the easiest way you’re going to get your hands on one, and inventors The Graffiti Lab are happy to provide online assembly instructions. All the supplies are available at your neighbourhood Home Depot, bicycle shop and art store. Check out http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?page_id=41#video for a video demo and link to the step-by-step instructions page.

ArtsHole

COMEDIENNES WITH BALLS: Offering what they call a “a refreshing change from the standard boys club of comedy,” Toronto all-female comedy troupe From the Mouths of Babes bring their still-ballsy humour to the MainLine Theatre (3997 St-Laurent) this Saturday, Aug. 12, at 8:30 p.m., $12–$15. They’ll be joined by the ever-deadpan Heidi Foss and Micheline Marchildon, who performed her DORK: One Woman’s Sexual Journey at the Fringe last June. • GLOBAL GET UP: Multidisciplinary artists from Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Guatemala, the U.S., right here in Quebec and more come together for the Défi des Artistes du Monde, the opening of their year-old group collective’s first show at the Salon Daomé (141 Mount-Royal E.) this Friday, Aug. 11, from 7–11 p.m.

ARTISTAT: Number of international, independent artists taking part in the mammoth International Expo Art Montreal, bringing together works and performance of all types until Aug. 14, free to the public at the Old Port’s Jacques Cartier Pier: 600

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