ALMOST EPHEMERAL: “Maison” by Jarry

As would seem to be something of a tradition in these parts, General 54 (54 St–Viateur)—the Mile-End hot spot for all things local arts and craftsy—launched their annual holiday show and sale last Thursday with new prints by Montreal artist Alice Jarry.

The pieces on display are densely layered and uniquely textural in appearance and feel both nostalgic in tone, and yet oddly prophetic. Aesthetically beautiful, they haunt because, like archival photos, they seem to carry ghosts within them. And though I would hesitate to use the word apocalyptic, in a manner appropriate to the end-times zeitgeist, they speak to the ephemeral nature of existence, hinting at a time when our present will have passed into history.

Jarry is joined here by two other local printmakers: studio mate Isabel Guimond—whose work is more playful in tone, resonant with recontextualized Americana and 1950s iconography—and Mile-Ender Jesse Purcell, whose contribution is a series of vivid colourful abstractions.

by STACEY DEWOLFE

Very short stories

SINGLE SENTENCES: A postcard by Robinson

Matt Bain and Paul Berry are men of few words. “Matt and I are high school friends who bonded over our shared love of the absurd,” says Berry. “We noticed a folder called One Sentence Stories on the old Babylon BBS that no one ever contributed to, so Matt decided to fill it with short narrative abstract bits of comedy.”

Lately they’ve taken to publishing One Sentence Stories on postcards featuring the artwork of Amelia Robinson, and performing them with their musician friend James Schidlowsky.

“We want to make the stories sink in for a minute,” Berry explains. “I read a story, Matt reads a story and then this man James—sometimes he uses a zither, sometimes he uses whale mating calls on cassette tapes—he adds a very interesting counterpoint to them.”

Singer/songwriter Nick Kirschner opens for the stories this Friday, Dec. 19 at la Cagibi (5490 St-Laurent), at 9 p.m. Free!

by VINCENT TINGUELY

 

Internal goes external

“Finding a balance in an off-balance state is the unconscious thread that runs through my work.” This is how Israeli choreographer Yuval Pick describes part of what propels him to create movement. “My work is about revealing our internal landscape,” he says.

Lucie Boissinot, artistic director of L’école de danse contemporaine (LADMMI), commissioned the Lyon-based choreographer who has danced with the Batsheva Dance Company to create a work for dance students in their final year.

The result, Violet is a large group work that features “asymmetrical movement” and is set to a new wave and ’80s rock music kind of vibe. For Pick, the piece is mostly about the “urge of connecting with yourself or another person.”

His 30-minute closing choreography is part of an evening of dance called Cru d’automne, LADMMI 2008, which opens with Un jardin de porcelaine sous une pluie de météorites, by Hinda Essadiqi and LE CARNAVAL DES ANIMAUX (pas selon Saint-Saëns!) from Manon Oligny. The trio of works runs nightly until Dec. 20 at Théâtre La Chapelle (3700 St-Dominique), 8 p.m., $10–$17, (514) 843-7738.

by MARITES CARINO

Borders redrawn

Border Movements, an exhibition and series of events exploring the notion of the border as a “discursive space where art and politics meet, engage in dialogue and clash,” is on now at galerie la Centrale (4296 St-Laurent).

Envisioned as a “means of creating a space for reflection, conversations and skill sharing,” the exhibit speaks to the need to be reflective about our relationships with the manifold borders that we live within, and create around ourselves—the lines, both literal and figurative, that have a propensity to separate, exclude and marginalize.

With contributions from artists Nidal El Khairy, Tatiana Gomez and Min Sook Lee, among others, the show raises questions about the voyeuristic nature of exhibits, especially in their tendency to focus on the refugees and immigrants whose movements often redraw and redefine these borders.

The work challenges not only our capacity for empathy, but the validity of an empathetic response—through political action and/or social response—to bridge the distance between “here” and “over there.” The show runs to Dec. 21 with a video screening tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

by STACEY DEWOLFE

Is it art?

BEARDED LADIES: Women get the short end of the stick. Sure we get to wear dresses, cry on command and can get ourselves into and out of just about anything by batting our eyelids and showing a bit of leg/breast—but men get to grow facial hair.

Who wouldn’t love the freedom of growing a fu-manchu, a Tom Selleck or a beard just for fun? Well, now you can. Portland, Oregon-based artist Erin Dollar wants you to get in touch with your inner lumberjack.

Made of either felt or wool, her stylish beards come in a rainbow of colours and in two distinct styles: the classic (a clean, streamlined version) and the bushier lumberjack. The beards go for $40 a pop, a small price to pay to feel like a man.

imadeyouabeard.blogspot.com

Arts hole

FOR THE BIRDS: The TOHU (2345 Jarry E.) premieres their latest extravaganza, the Birdhouse Factory, tonight Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., featuring dancers, circus performers and birdhouses. The show runs until Jan. 4. • CHRISTMAS CRAZY: Usine 106U (160 Roy E.) presents 30 Seconds Before Christmas, an unusual Xmas market where you can get some unusual last minute gifts, Dec. 20–21 from 12–7 p.m.

Artistat

:The number of artists and critics who helped author DARE-DARE’s latest publication Dis/location: Projet d’articulation urbaine. Square Viger, which launches this Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the CCA (1920 Baile): 9