Hage out loud
WRITERS READING: Rawi Hage
Author Rawi Hage arrived at the writer’s game by a circuitous route—he first made his mark as a photographer. “I had a few exhibits here and there, and outside of Canada as well,” Hage explains. “Then one day a curator asked me to write something. I wrote her a few short stories and she encouraged me to keep writing.”
This led to a whole series of stories, one of which kept growing until it became De Niro’s Game, Hage’s blockbuster first novel, set in Lebanon during the civil war. “My process is very spontaneous—I sit down and write,” says Hage. “I don’t have a methodical process, I try to stay away from that.”
Hage will read from De Niro’s Game and answer questions from the audience, at the next QWF Writers Out Loud, hosted by T.F. Rigelhof, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m. at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), $3.
by VINCENT TINGUELY
Cultural two-step
To ease the transition into fall, the city hosts its annual three-day culture fest, Journées de la culture. With free activities in all artistic disciplines, in all kinds of venues, both indoors and out, starting tomorrow (Sept. 28), culture vultures can get their fix across the city.
In its 11th season, organizers have scheduled dozens of workshops, performances and exhibits throughout the island. At noon Saturday, Sept. 29, the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation invites the public to dance in a special choreography set to music by Gilles Vigneault, who, incidentally, will be attending the performance. Another special event includes Le goût des autres, a Sunday afternoon discussion at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts about hybrid arts practices in cinema, music and dance.
To help you get around, hop on the free shuttle bus that follows different thematic routes and operates all weekend long. Get the complete jam-packed schedule at www.journeesdelaculture.qc.ca.
by MARITES CARINO
Social spontaneity
Life is unscripted and the images in Inside/out, the latest show by Venezuelan-born and Montreal-based photographer John Londoño, nicely illustrate this aspect of our existence.
 An attempt to capture the spontaneity and paradoxical moments of social situations, the images that make up the exhibition came from, “A need and a reflex, more than an actual project,” Londoño explains. Toeing the line between documentary and fiction, the show includes an image of a guy laughing as he’s falling down the stairs.
Despite not having a pre-planned theme, the images seamlessly come together, and in the end the exhibit is, in Londoño’s view, “Emblematic of how every image should be seen, with both sides of the metal.”
As part of Journées de la culture and Parcours Intercultural, Londoño’s exhibit also includes an aspect of public interaction. After teaching a workshop at Cégep du Vieux-Montreal, students took photos inspired by his work. “I thought it talked about just more than my generation,” he says, “I was curious to see what 18–22-year-olds had to say about my work.” You can view their interpretations at the vernissage this Friday, Sept. 28, at CTRL LAB (3534 St-Laurent), from 6 p.m. onwards.
by SACHA JACKSON
Is it art?
FLASH ON THE CAN: It’s hard to believe that anyone could improve on the revolutionary invention of an elasticised carpet that adorns your toilet lid—or that anyone would waste their time. But it seems fashion designer and entrepreneur Celeste Massullo has enough free time on her hands to devote some of it to rejuvenating “toilet decor.”
The idea started when Massullo, fresh from stencilling her armoire, no doubt,  turned her attention to the WC. “I wanted to decorate my toilet in a creative, modern and clean way.” So she created Toilet Tattoos, peel-and-stick appliqués that you, well, peel-and-stick on your toilet lid.
Available in a range of styles, you can put flowers, rubber duckies, the fleur-de-lis or Frosty the Snowman’s face on your pisser. Considering the versatility of the concept, it’s somewhat surprising that the product is the only kind of its sort on the market, truly making it, “the only way to crown your throne.” You can order online at www.toilet-tattoos.com.
Arts
hole
POETIC LICENCE: The Atwater Poetry Project kicks off tomorrow, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Atwater Library (1200 Atwater), with readings by philosopher and poet Jan Zwicky and Australia’s John Mateer. • GIMME MORE: If two poets just aren’t enough, follow the 20 North to Trois-Rivières for the International Poetry Festival, where you can revel in the verse of 100 Canadian and international poets and write a stanza or two yourself at the poetry workshops, from Sept. 28–Oct. 7, fiptr.com. •THRIFT AND BURLESQUE: If clothes and booty are your thing, head to Bistro Parc de Princes (5293 Parc) tonight (Sept. 27) at 7 p.m. for an eco-friendly fashion show and cabaret by the Dead Doll Dancers.
Artistat
The number of years that the Yellow Door (3625 Aylmer)—which celebrates its anniversary this weekend (Sept. 28–29) with live performances and workshops—has been showcasing artists of all kinds: 40 |
