Honouring Yves Gaucher

Concordia University honours one of its own with their current exhibition, Tribute to Yves Gaucher. An internationally admired painter and printmaker, Gaucher (1934–2000) taught at Concordia for more than 30 years. The exhibition includes two of his paintings from the mid-’80s, along with a selection of works by a few of his former students and colleagues.

As a former student of Gaucher’s myself, I remember conversations covering a wide range of topics and personal tales, but most of all I recall a lot of laughing and joke-cracking in the studio. I went to this exhibit to see a bit of his character reflected back at me.

Curator David Elliott chose work by former students spanning Gaucher’s teaching career—from early students Betty Goodwin (BFA ’69) and Jana Sterbak (BFA ’77) to Marc Seguin (BFA ’95) and Jennifer Lefort (BFA ’02). The variety of the work reflects Gaucher’s approach as an instructor. He didn’t push a specific dogma or style and he was never one to tell you what to do. His opening remarks in our first class have stayed with me to this day: “In this class there are no assignments, no group critiques. I assume you are here because you want to be an artist. So start working, and I’ll talk to you about what you do.” At the Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, (1400 de Maisonneuve W.) until August 3. Info: 848-4750. :
—Christine Redfern

Goods for gals

If you’re one to prowl for cool, cheap finds, head over to the garage sale happening at Elle Corazon this weekend. While shopping for bargains you can also check out their latest art offering, Battlefield Woman. This exhibit by five young Montreal artists is an eclectic mix of mediums and styles. It includes photographs by Veronique Soucy, Lynne Cooper and Shawnda Wilson, paintings by Erin Candella and some amazing handmade one-of-a-kind leather clothes by Jade Devangelis. The exhibit runs until July 31 at 176 Bernard W. :

Battle of
the brushes

Competitiveness in the art world can take many forms, some of them nasty. A good-natured example of artistic rivalry, though, is ARTraction, an event taking place this month featuring over 125 works by 26 artists on display in 20 chic spots around town. Works will be judged by the public—that means you—and the winning artist gets a solo show and a fancy vernissage at Art Central (460 Ste-Catherine W., #403), where you can pick up a ballot and list of locations. Works will be on display through July 31. :

Creation generations
Leigh Coogan has had plenty of experience teaching literature and culture to young CÉGEP students at New School, LaSalle College and College de Bois-de-Boulogne. Recently, his horizons broadened when he took on the task of teaching creative writing to retired people at the Creative Social Centre. “Their attitude is you’re never too old to learn, and you’re always learning,” says Coogan. “This is quite a contrast to CÉGEP, where students are always asking why they have to learn literature.”

Struck by the talent of his retired students, Coogan has set up an inter-generational reading, purely for pleasure, at the capacious new Insomniac Bookcafé. He’s invited Dana Bath, author of Plenty of Harm in God, Streeteaters publisher and spoken wordster Paula Belina, Krazy Fest film event organizer Tom Fennario, poet Alexis Diamond, spoken word artist Laura Macdonald, singer Amber Goodwyn and many others to meet with, and hopefully hear the work of members of his creative writing workshop. “There are going to be people who are 20 performing with people who are 60,” Coogan enthuses. “I think each generation has its own perspective to offer.”

Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m., at the Insomniac (5322 Queen Mary—metro Snowdon). Free admission. :
—Vincent Tinguely

Is it Art?
Breaker breaker: Dancers are setting up shop
at Just for Laughs’ Urban Expressions stage (corner of St-Denis and de Maisonneuve), perhaps none as unusual as the Rubberband Dance Group. Formed by Victor Quijada, formerly of Les Grands Ballets, the Rubberbanders put a strange spin on staid old breakdancing, pulling out those crazy moves to a classical music soundtrack, among other permutations on the form. See them, as well as Rebel the Analyst and P.O. Domino, this Friday, July 19 at 9:30 p.m. :

ArtsHole
Determined dramaturge: Renowned Indian playwright, director, actor and more, Habib Tanvir of Bhopal, India’s Naya Theatre Company, speaks on the subject of “Traditions, Modernity and Indian Theatre” this weekend at an event organized by Teesra Duniya Theatre. At the Association Récréative Milton-Parc (3555 St-Urbain) this Saturday, July 20, 8 p.m. * Star search: Turn your gaze skyward at an astronomy night way out at the Morgan Arboretum (150 des Pins, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue). Presented by the Montreal chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the event will feature a talk and a chance to peak, via telescope, at double stars, nebulae and the like. This Friday, July 19, at 8:30 p.m. Info: 398-7811. * The pressure’s on: The BBCM Foundation is on the hunt for artists to participate in the sixth annual Black & Blue Festival of Fine Art Exhibition and Auction, opening October 11. They’re looking for anything “Full Pressure” in spirit and theme. Ten artists will be chosen to create live on site and 20 more to display a work. The deadline is August 15. Info: Kat Coric, 875-7026, katia@bbcm.org. :

Artistat: Number of mixed-media artists participating in the Galerie de Bellefeuille’s (1367 Greene) New Representation, running July 18–29: 25. :