FULLY LOADED:
François Georget’s “Le Chasseur dans la neige”

Have you ever fallen for the work of a young artist, but let your fear of commitment hold you back, humming and hawing until said artist has moved beyond your price range?

If you have felt my pain, then the fourth edition of Fresh Paint at Art Mûr (5826 St-Hubert)—a group show of 25 up-and-comers from Quebec and Ontario—might just be the place to turn things around.

Previously focused on graduating art students from Concordia and UQÀM, this year’s show extends its reach to include the University of Ottawa, Université Laval, and York.

“For us, it’s the opportunity to discover new artists,” says gallery director Rhéal Olivier Lanthier, but it is also an event for the young collector, giving them the chance to buy the work of promising artists at a good price. Participating artist Isabelle Melançon described the show as a gift. “For a young artist, it’s really important to be seen… but starting up can be hard.”

The paintings on view are as diverse as you would expect from a show of this nature, but there is a sort of vibrant optimism and originality of vision that unites the exhibition. The show runs until August 16.

by STACEY DEWOLFE

South African
mountain dance

ANIMAL INSTINCTS: Amakhosi

Cape Town-based choreographer Bheki Ndlovu is bringing a piece of home to Montreal. Ndlovu is assistant director of AMAKHOSI—The Kings of Africa, a theatrical dance show that tells the story, based on a myth, of the South African landmark with its signature flat top.

“The whole story revolves around how Table Mountain was formed,” explains Ndlovu after their Canadian premiere in Ottawa.

More than 30 artists and musicians recount the tale through the characters of an evil queen, her angelic daughter who falls in love with a reflection of a far-away prince, voodoo magic and a relentless battle between warriors, which supposedly flattens the mountain.

Ndlovu, who plays the character of a Sangoma, “a traditional doctor and a wise old man,” says the movement base is a mix of Zulu, Xhosa, West African and Venda dance.

The show takes place at the Jacques-Cartier Quay, on the Quays of the Old Port until August 17. Find the details at www.amakhosiafrica.com.

by MARITES CARINO

Small sexy word event

NOT PULLING ANY PUNCHES: Haley

Quebec’s English Language Arts Network is kicking off a series of “Small Sexy Events” this Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m. at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), with West Coast spoken word icon Heather Haley.

She and musician Roderick Shoolbraid are touring in support of her latest CD, Princess Nut. Haley’s poetic performances draw on intense situations found in everyday existence.

“It’s what hits home, that which I feel in my gut, that is what I’m compelled to portray in my writing,” Haley explains. “I don’t like to preach or be preached at, neither do I pull any punches. I address disturbing issues like addiction and domestic violence and I’m so weary of people telling me my ‘work is dark.’ It’s rather akin to pointing out to me that my hair is red!” Other performers in the ELAN line-up include alternative world musician HuDost, and local accordianist/chanteuse Jordi Rosen. $5.

by VINCENT TINGUELY

 

Wrestling vampires

A Mexican wrestler-cum-scientist invents a time machine to get revenge on Dracula for biting his colleague’s daughter in a former lifetime. It could only be Fantasia.

MASKED MASTER:
El Santo

For the second year, the fest is offering free outdoor film screenings at Fantasia Under the Stars in Parc de la Paix (next to SAT, 1195 St-Laurent).

Friday night, July 18, sees a selection of the best Quebec shorts from last year, running the gamut from sci-fi and kung fu to horror and miscellaneous weirdness. Saturday, July 19 is a return to the old school, with a screening of El Santo and Dracula’s Treasure, featuring the camp Mexican wrestling idol.

“Okay, maybe it’s not the best talent, but we were all raised on El Santo,” laughs Marc Lamothe, general director of the fest. “Every year we show a Santo film and people go loco. So it’s kind of a wink to our public.”

The films start when the sun goes down, but DJs and video artists will be spinning tunes and projecting psychedelic images from 7 p.m.

by MATT JONES

Is it art?

ROCK BAND: The Rock-afire Explosion was just another out of work band when Chris Thrash turned them into a YouTube sensation.

Before Thrash rescued them from obscurity, Rock-afire was the house band at Showbiz Pizza Palace, a Chuck E. Cheese competitor that shut down in the ’80s.

Thrash bought the animatronics band—which features an Ape on keyboards, a long-eared dog on drums and backwoods bear on lead (likely making it the most multicultural band to come out of Alabama, ever)—from the company and started programming the characters to songs he liked and posting them online.

Thrash now holds weekly contests in which viewers can vote to have the band play their favourite song (previous winners include Usher’s “Love in This Club,” and MGMT’s “Electric Feels”). Each song takes about two weeks to choreograph, program and record, at which point you can find them on his YouTube channel.

The latest song to win the honour? Arcade Fire’s “Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels).” You can vote for your favourite at www.starsof.com/fans/.

Arts hole

LAUGHS FOR POT: Smokers and supporters of medicinal marijuana should head to le Social (1445 Bishop) this Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. for ExtravaGANJA, a comedy show to raise awareness about (and funds towards) medical marijuana. Performers include Russell Roy, Matt Boylan, Bryan Bruner and special guests. Tickets are $10. • SONGS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY: Russian musician Sonia Falkovitch and her band Mazeltov perform in a Yiddish Cabaret project with a multicultural twist next Wednesday, July 23 at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent).

Artistat

The amount it’ll cost you to learn about the impact of climate change while aboard the historical Sedna IV, a three-mast schooner used for scientific expeditions including a mission to Antarctica, which is currently docked at Clock Tower Quay in the Old Port until Aug. 31: 0