In studio

by Genevieve Paiement

Part art and architectural history lesson, part cultural exchange and part contemporary art exhibit, L'Effet du logis, as curator Emmanuel Galland explains it, works on many levels. Housed in the Studio Cormier, its location is an unintentionally well-kept secret. "I wanted to introduce this space to Montrealers, a place where artists usually go to work, not exhibit--it's a jewel," Galland explains. The studio belonged to Ernest Cormier, the architect who designed the University of Montreal's main pavillion and who used to throw parties for visiting European artists in the three-storey space in the '30s and '40s.

Continuing in the spirit of the studio, L'Effet du logis brings together 19 French and Québécois artists who have participated in the Franco-Canadian Les Inclassables artist-in-residence program. No room is left untouched--in the bathroom, Mireille Loup's video Henri III features Loup playing 20 characters talking to an ex-boyfriend named Henri. In the garage, there's Sylvie Ungauer's '70s basement installation and upstairs there's Stéphane Phillipot's teenage-bedroom-with-a-surprising-twist installation. "The link between the works is the idea of the domestic--incorporating architecture, personal history and autobiography," Galland says. Experience the thrills at 3450 A St-Urbain, 2-7 p.m. until Oct. 20.

Trash heap hoedown

by Genevieve Paiement

As the New Cinema and New Media Festival lurches into its closing weekend, don't despair, young technology geeks: there's still much sound and video experimentation to partake in. If you didn't get enough of Kid 606 throwing plastic cups of beer at your head while making your ears bleed with his double-pronged lap-top assault, perhaps the odiferous mindfuck of Pierre Hébert (visuals) and Bob Ostertag's Between Science and Garbage will satisfy you. Their performance will both illustrate and comment on the disposablity of our culture (at the MAC, Oct. 19, 9 p.m., $8.50).

In other news, Woody and Steina Vasulka, the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the new media world, are in town. You can still catch Woody's presentation, Time Energy and Code (at the MAC, Oct. 20, 3 p.m., $8.50), which will involve electro-mechanical machines and images from his extensive archives. And then there's the Wetfish phenomenon--this electro-duo reworks Fritz Lang's masterpiece Metropolis to include throat-singing, cellos and assorted blips and bleeps (at the MAC, Oct. 21, 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.): be afraid. Be very afraid. Call 847-1242 or visit www.fcmm.com for details.

Land locked

by Sholem Krishtalka

In showing René Derouin's installation La Ligne Dormante, the Circa Gallery is doing its part to keep land art alive. Land art is concerned with nature as subject or medium, and Derouin's nature-dominated opus is no exception. Ligne Dormante has two aspects: scupltural installations of amorphous, fish-like shapes hung on string and gathered in water-filled plate-glass containers, and two-dimensional slabs of plywood with lines carved into them, painted black and white.

Derouin's work is deeply rooted in natural and environmental concerns. His carved plywood canvasses are acutely reminiscent of fossil imprints layered in geological strata. His sculptural installations seem almost alive, as if we are watching the migration of the not-quite fish along a path from the water to the sky. There is a kinship between the artist and the earth here, and that is the strength of the show. At 372 Ste-Catherine W., #444, until Nov. 10.

True lies

by Vincent Tinguely

Anyone who's caught Alexis O'Hara at the mike knows she's no shrinking violet. Recent projects include a summer-long spoken word tour throughout much of the USA and Canada, and recording projects for Brave New Waves and the forthcoming Ribsauce CD. Now she's launching a funky poetry book, (more than) Filthy Lies.

The title means exactly what it says. According to O'Hara, "There was a Filthy Lies chapbook that I put out a couple of years ago, partly because of a conversation with Jonathan Goldstein about writing about sex when you're not getting any. Because (more than) Filthy Lies is a bigger tome, I wanted to put some of my greatest hits in there, and some of my experimental short stories and such." The alternately scorching and just plain daffy erotica, the zany graphics, and the pieces familiar to fans of her slam poetry like "Female Hypochondria" and "You Can Never Be too Rich, too Thin or too Fucken Stoopid," serve as a very personal tour through the O'Hara Zeitgeist.

O'Hara has recruited hot local poets and performers Skidmore, Catherine Kidd, Robin Akimbo, Michael Boyce and Colin from the Group of N to give their own creative spin on some of her pieces. At Blizzarts (3956A St-Laurent), Monday, Oct. 22, 5-9 p.m., free. Book, $10 (special launch price).

Is it Art?

Gays speak! With all the talk of religion and war in the news, we might do well to ponder religion and love. Judging by the title, Sodomites and Churchmen: The Theological Invention of Homosexuality, should be an eyebrow-raising lecture. Given by Dr. Mark D. Jordan, of The Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, this talk will explore the relationship between the church and homosexuality. Takes place this Friday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. at Concordia's De Sève Cinema.

ArtsHole

Films on wheels: Well, it's been a long haul, but it's finally over: the Cine Bicicleta project will culminate with a soirée next Tuesday at the Monument-National. After spending six months touring Chile and Argentina in 2000, Patrick Carde and Barbara Bernheim have spent the last five months touring Quebec and France by bicycle with a big bag of short films. They screen them at 1182 St-Laurent, Oct. 23, 8:30 p.m., free. Info: www.cinebicicleta.com. * Puts the art in party: A new boutique/gallery has sprung up and it goes by the name of Les Interférences. Featuring objects and furniture by Fridge Productions, photography, jewellery, live DJs and more, the space aims to bring together artists and the public for an all-around good time. At 4933 Grand-Pré, Oct. 18-21, 3 p.m. Info: 499-1777. * Sneak a peek: Local up-and-coming photographer Erika Kierulf is showing her collection of intimate snapshots entitled No Peaking. Capturing intensely personal moments, Kierulf presents us with a moving visual diary. At the Vice store (58 des Pins E.), Oct. 19-Nov. 15 (vernissage Oct. 19, 8-11 p.m.). Info: 286-5224 ext.110. :



Artistat: Approximate number of events that will make up the Montreal Intercultural Storytelling Festival: 70 :