WINDOW TO THE WORLD:
Pobjoy’s “Car Lot” and “Pedestrian”

Have you ever thought about taking a bus trip across America, spurred by the spirit of adventure and the romance of the open road? Local photographer Ben Pobjoy did, and last year he went one step further: he did it, all 7,000 glorious miles of it, from Montreal to Los Angeles and back, in one 13-day stint.

The result of this incredible voyage is an exhibition and book launch that has its vernissage at the Emporium Gallery (3035 St-Antoine W., #74) tomorrow, Friday, July 4 at 7 p.m.

Land of America grew out of Pobjoy’s fascination with bus stations and the people that pass through them. The photographs are both documents and revelations, capturing the remarkable people and places that criss-crossed his path, often from the bus window, and exploring the fine line between everyman and icon that is inherently American.

But suffering the challenges endemic to 160 hours of bus travel was no easy feat. Describing the trip as “brutal at times… but incredibly eye-opening,” Pobjoy enjoyed being outside of his comfort zone.

“I prefer to photograph the people I know... to photograph strangers and places that were unfamiliar to me was an immense personal and photographic challenge.”

by STACEY DEWOLFE

Risky and frisky

CLASSY AND SASSY:
From Andrea Hausmann’s Dangerous Ladies series

To mark the launch of its sixth issue, Montreal’s most pansexual of smut-rags, Lickety Split, is hosting a lusty Rock ‘n’ Roll game night this Friday, July 4 at 9 p.m. at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent).

Featuring rockers the Hot Springs, Hollerado and On Bodies as well as the Gainsbourgian Call Me Poupée, the evening promises a return to those pubescent days of exploring sexuality through Strip Poker, Spin the Bottle, Twister and Seven Minutes in Heaven. 

For those who learned about the birds and bees on lower St-Laurent, veteran smutsters the Dead Doll Dancers will be working up the nostalgia with their trademark brand of crack-whore booty-shaking. In short, there’s something for everyone.

“We’re kind of a grab-bag of different stuff,” says founder Amber Goodwyn. Over the last four years, the zine has cultivated a close relationship with its fans. “The content is defined and created by the community who reads and enjoys Lickety Split,” she says.

Issue six focuses on risk, and features interviews with gay prisoners, public sex photoshoots, Dangerous Ladies pulp fiction pin-ups and a profile of “open source porn lab” Sharing Is Sexy.

Entry is $10 and includes a copy of the latest issue, www.licketysplitzine.com.

by MATT JONES

Bags, bags, bags

Call it what you will—purse, handbag, satchel, tote—the bag in all its forms has been an object of lust, status and necessity since its arrival on the fashion scene.

From Chanel clutches to Jane Birkin’s ubiquitious namesake, to the bejewelled behemoths toted by the starlets of young Hollywood, the bag has become an icon of the well-to-do, what-to-wear set.

COLLECTOR’S ITEM:
A late ’70s clutch

But there is more to this story than brand name cachet and celebrity endorsements—a history rife with secrets and mysteries, with contents hidden and tales untold.

And it’s this that inspired the team at the Museum of Costumes and Textiles (349 Riverside, St-Lambert) to create The Bag Knows Why… which runs until September 14.

“The show’s origins lie in old memories,” says director Suzanne Chabot, “of cousins and aunts carrying this fascinating accessory.” The bags on display were gathered from various institutions and private donors, with a section devoted to contemporary Quebec designers such as Mariouche, Simon Trudeau and Diane Jutras.

Accompanied by texts, the museum aims to tell some parts of the story and leave other parts unsaid, its lingering mysteries part of what makes this particular accessory so uniquely compelling.

by STACEY DEWOLFE

 

Culture swap

Les Weekends du monde followed a move in 2005 to group ethnic festivals under one unwieldy umbrella—fests that used to be sensibly scattered around the island wherever each community was concentrated.

VENEZUELAN REP: Soraya Benitez

Now in its third year, the series of events at Parc Jean-Drapeau gives Montrealers a chance to meet people from other communities and hang out. Music, exhibits, dance, sporting events and food are all part of the colourful series.

Of the several sub-festivals that make up Les Weekends, the Vivre nos cultures segment this weekend, July 4–5, looks like a beauty, featuring Chilean, Bolivian, Peruvian and Andean music. There’s Antillean Soul from Kassandra Dasent, Italian choral singing, Colombian harp, Turkish and Russian dancing and the South African Gumboots dance troupe Amaqhawé.

The performance ALTAR.MIX is a contemporary look at Mexico’s Day of the Dead, and the concert “Quand les traditions s’emmêlent” mashes up Quebec folk, Middle Eastern oud and West African kora.

Info: www.weekendsdumonde.com.

by NEIL BOYCE

Is it art?

WELL HEELED: You’re never too young to wear heels. At least that’s the philosophy behind Heelarious, a company that makes heels for babies.

Started by friends Britta Bacon and Hayden Porter, the idea came to mind when Bacon, on the way to a party with her four-year-old daughter, thought about how funny it would be to dress a baby in heels.

The idea was born and soon after came the heels, which are “extremely funny, completely soft, fully functional high heel crib shoes for babies.” We’re basically talking the baby equivalent of heeled, feather-covered mules, worn by cougar-types who skirt around the house in a silk negligee and a see-through housecoat.

These shoes, however, are not made for walking: the heel has been specially designed to collapse with weight. That may sound a tad dangerous, but the Web site insists they will not harm the child in any way. The shoes do come with one warning, however: “May cause extreme smiling and hysterical laughter when in use (this is completely normal).” www.heelarious.com

Arts hole

EAT ’EM COWBOYS: Théâtre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.) presents their fourth annual Le Petit Déjeuner Stampede this Saturday, July 5 starting at 10 a.m. Head on down to the theatre for a free pancake breakfast (with sausages!), cheap beer and the sweet country-fried sounds of Li’l Andy & Karaoke Cowboy, Joe McLean, Lake of Stew, the Cockroaches and many more.
• CHOOSE YOUR IDOLS: Usine 106U (111 Roy E.) presents APOTHEOSE, a group show exhibiting new works by 27 artists including Mimi Traillette, Frédéric Chabot, Sam Kerson, the Mirror’s Rupert Bottenberg and many others. The vernissage takes place, tonight, Thursday, July 3 at 5 p.m. The show runs until July 28.

Artistat

The number of new shows at the Montreal Planetarium (1000 St-Jacques) until September 1 for ages seven and up that explore many different aspects of the cosmos: 3