Emerging
aboriginals
DREAMY AND DIVERSE: Talia Leos’s “Àngeles...in situ”Gaétan Gingras, a pioneer in aboriginal contemporary dance in Quebec, wanted to give young dancers the encouragement and opportunity he didn’t have when he started on his artistic path. His company Manitowapan Productions is producing a show, New Winds, that acts as a showcase for emerging talent from diverse parts of the Americas.
“The objective is to try to promote aboriginal dance by giving young aboriginal choreographers a chance to present their work,” says Gingras, who has worked with each of the four female artists on previous projects.
Dancer-choreographer Lara Kramer touches on the experiences her Ojibwa and Cree mother had in residential schools, and Barbara Diabo, from the Mohawk nation, presents a piece that was inspired by her people. Karina Iraola, of Spanish and Bolivian origins, performs in her solo that uses dance, theatre and film, and Mexican choreographer Talia Leos presents a dreamy piece that migrates between two worlds.
“It’s going to be a mixed program,” says Gingras. “It’ll be interesting to see the different energies on stage.”
Until March 27 at 8 p.m. at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance), $22.
by MARITES CARINO
Parisian fantasy
One era ends, a new one begins: that’s how it goes as Alain Mercieca and company wrap up the sixth and final chapter in what he calls Montreal’s only “bilingual cabaret sitcom” theatre series CAFé CAFé: PARIS at Nouveau Theatre Sainte-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.) to March 27.
Mercieca’s reflective as he talks about PARIS and his saga about the broke-ass  artists who roam our city. “It’s definitely sad in some ways—I’m feeling inspired by having the whole cast here to write other [chapters].”
Mercieca directs the fantasy-comedy he co-wrote with Glyn Jones. “This one summarizes it all,” he says. “Every CAFé CAFé is about these sad cynics who pathetically rant about how difficult it is being an artist in Montreal. Now it’s the inverse. We go to Paris and it’s a dreamworld, poets are rich and run everything. Corporate types are in the street begging.”
The group’s already preparing for new adventures with a feature film based on the series underway this summer. After that, Mercieca concludes, he’ll have done everything he can with the story. “Really, it’s an ode to dreaming, to following your dreams, corporate or artsy. Have a good life and have a good time.”
by NEIL BOYCE
Review: Atmosphères
at Galerie Pangée
As someone who approaches the fine art galleries in Old Montreal with trepidation, believing them to be more committed to commerce than art, I tried to view the new exhibition at Galerie Pangée (40 St-Paul W.) with an open mind. But though the individual works on view have their merits, the experience overall left me a bit cold. A feeling I can only attribute to the gallery space, which seemed somewhat detached from, or even disinterested, in the work.
Curated by Belgrade-born artist Lara Pan, Atmosphères comprises the work of six  international artists: Michael Flomen (Canada), Judith Braun (U.S.), Maria Antelman (Greece), Michael Aerts (Belgium), Vargas-Suarez Universal (Mexico/U.S.) and Luca Pozzi (Italy). Pozzi’s installation, which looks interesting in the image above, sat abandoned on the gallery floor.
The ideas behind the show, as described by Pan in the press release, are compelling. She asks us to “meditate on higher forms of perception,” and allow the silence to fill the space between the works, thereby creating an “emotional environment.” But without the silence, and without that connection materializing, it was difficult to see the sum beyond its parts.
by STACEY DEWOLFE
IS IT ART?
VIVE LE Pâté CHINOIS: Sugar shack season is upon us but just because you’ll be stuffing your face with maple-y pig products doesn’t mean you have to ignore the rest of Quebec’s illustrious food tradition.
Château Ramezay (280 Notre-Dame E.) invites you to dig into the history and  taste of the province’s official national dish, Pâté Chinois, this Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. Part of the museum’s ongoing event Delicious Sundays, this week’s event Shepard’s Pie or Comfort Food, led by professor and author of Le mystère insondable du pâté chinois, Jean-Pierre Lemasson, will explore the history of the dish (what’s with the addition of Chinois?). Chef Hugo Larouche of the Fourquet Fourchette will be on hand whipping up various forms of pâtés for you to taste and critique.
chateauramezay.qc.ca
Arts hole
STRIP, DANCE, SING: Set this weekend aside for three quirky events at the MainLine (3997 St-Laurent). It kicks off tomorrow, Friday, March 26 with the Strip Spelling Bee—you spell wrong, you striptease off a third of your clothing. Sign up at 9:30 p.m., spell at 10 p.m., $10. Dress up, or not, for OMFG It’s Almost Spring! Slowdance Night on Saturday, March 27, 9:30 p.m. Slow songs will be broken up by really, really fast ones, $10. Close your weekend by belting out a tune with a room full of others (you get to pick a song from your own playlist) at Crowd Karaoke, Sunday, March 28, 8 p.m., $6. • HOME/STUDIO: Darling Foundry (745 Ottawa) opens their doors to the public tonight Thursday, March 25 from 5–9 p.m. and lets you peek into the work and living spaces of four artist currently in residence. Wine and tapas round out the night.
Artistat
The number of titles short-listed for the Expozine Alternative Press Awards in the categories of best book, best zine and best comic, which will be presented at the gala event hosted by Alexis O’Hara, with readings by nominated authors and a performance by Tony Ezzy, this Wednesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. at the Divan Orange (4234 St-Laurent): 36
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