THE POLITICS OF SPORT: Andrew Pink’s “Victorious”

“Hockey is, in some ways, a propaganda tool,” says artist Andrew Pink about the rationale behind his latest exhibit, Cold War. Comprised of a series of 18 paintings, the work mixes hockey and imagery commonly found in WWII propaganda.

Pink, who studied painting and drawing at both Dawson and Concordia, says the idea for the show came about thanks to a shift in his political views. “I got into leftist politics and noticed that despite the shift in my political views, I was still interested and invested in the Olympics and the hockey team in particular, which seemed sort of absurd.”

Using this juxtaposition as a jumping off point, he started to look at the similarities between sports and the military, which eventually led him to tie the two things together.

“My work is increasingly about how males are socialized in our culture. Because hockey rationalizes violence it can increase the legitimization of violence in other spheres,” he says. The vernissage takes place tonight, Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at Galerie Espace (4844 St-Laurent) with free beer from local brewery Bierbrier.

by SACHA JACKSON

B-boying and beyond

BREAKING DOWN BREAKIN’: Luca Patuelli

The first time choreographer/b-girl K8 Alsterlund saw Luca Patuelli, aka Lazylegz, perform, she was more than impressed. “I was totally blown away and inspired because I had never seen a disabled b-boy,” she recounts.

Patuelli was born with scoliosis and a rare muscle disease called arthrogryposis that affects his legs. Patuelli, who breaks with and without his crutches, has been b-boying since the age of 15 and shares his story around the world as a motivational speaker.

Since their first meeting, the two have been working on a solo show Alsterlund created called Ground Up & Beyond. The short piece chronicles Patuelli’s life story, challenges the audience’s perceptions of being disabled, and shows Lazylegz in a different light.

“He’s expressing himself and making himself vulnerable. I wanted people to see a different side of him and what shaped and motivated him,” Alsterlund explains. “We’re stepping out of the b-boy context and trying to do something different.”

The piece is part of Studio 303’s 142nd Vernissage-dance series that showcases “grounded” shorts, this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (372 St-Catherine W., #303), $10–$12 at the door.

by MARITES CARINO

 

Domo arigato,
Mr. Distroboto

by VINCENT TINGUELY

Mtl café culture

“Most artists are so conceited, one is better off talking to a block of cement.” Writer-director Alain Mercieca’s comedies have been produced in impromptu venues in Toronto, Halifax and Montreal. Since sticking a toe in the water for last spring’s Lunduntown at Théâtre Ste-Catherine, Mercieca opened (with Adam Kelly and others) Theatre 314 (10 des Pins W.), in the guts of the Plateau, to showcase the writers and actors in residence.

Café Café: Cigarettes and Spit, Jan. 30–Feb. 7, is the second installment in a comedy theatre series about the eponymous Montreal coffee shop, “home to great cynics and not-so-great lovers,” and the artists working in cafés who never perform in any show.

The thinly disguised plot covers the financial woes of Café Café owner Al, the struggle for a piece of government grant pie, a dance show entitled Cockroach Refractions, and characters like Mac Bivouac, who has been on the road for 10 years (never leaving the island of Montreal), while working on his novel Stayin’ at Home.

by NEIL BOYCE

Is it art?

IT’S LIKE THAT: With the inauguration over and Obama finally able to drop the “elect” from his title, one would expect Obamamania to start to quell, but that’s not happening. At least, not yet.

With Tuesday’s swearing in came a truckload of new Obama paraphernalia, everything from Obama masks and Russian Dolls to jigsaw puzzles (thanks New York Times!) and commemorative plates. But since his candidacy two years ago, true supporters have always favoured the t-shirt.

Originally made for the BET Awards, Black Klown Clothier are now selling their limited edition RUN DC shirts to the public for an affordable $30 U.S. Melding the iconic Run DMC logo with a rendering of the President in a fedora, heavy gold chain and DMC’s thick-rimmed glasses, the shirts reminds us not only of the first days of hip hop, but that the States now have a President who knows what that means.

rundc08.com

Arts hole

EAT WITH ART: Articule (262 Fairmount W.) presents Artartar, a group exhibition showcasing the work of 22 active members and exploring the flavours, appearances, cooking and consumption of food. This Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. the public is invited to Soup & Screen, a fundraising event that provides audience members with a hot bowl of soup while they sit back and watch two gastronomic themed films. • HOCKEY HISTORY: Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 23 at 9 p.m., the CBC airs The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years 100 Stars, a documentary following the history of the team and its players with personal stories from Henri Richard, Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, among others, and testimonials from artists like Sam Roberts, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel and Gino Vannelli.

Artistat

The time you should show up at Unspoken Heard, the monthly spoken word show presented by Kalmunity at the Sablo Kafé (50 St-Zotique E.) tonight, Thursday, Jan. 22, if you want to sign up for the open mic: 7:30 p.m.