This Sunday, Dec. 1, is World AIDS day. In the spirit of overcoming, three eminent artists will paint large and live as part of Vaincre, a fundraiser for the Fondation d’Aide Directe–SIDA Montreal (FADSM).

The event kicks off at noon with a warm-up party at Sputnik (1333A Ste-Catherine E.) followed by a symbolic procession at 6:45 p.m., complete with a 50-metre-long red ribbon, to Cabaret Mado (1115 Ste-Catherine E.) where the live action unfurls. There, graffiti-guru Zïlon, Yvon Goulet and Jean-Pierre Pérusse will create to an original score from Marc Anthony. “It won’t be ‘throw your hands in the air’ music,” says director Kat Coric. “More of a moving, travelling kind of thing. And I wanted to use the three artists who have more to do with the gay community in Montreal than anybody else, so this will be special.”

The finished work will be on display, and up for auction, at Cabaret Mado until Jan. 1. Bidding is done online at the FDSM Web site (http://pages.infinit.net/fadsm/) with all proceeds going to the 12-year-old organization, which has given support to thousands living with AIDS in Montreal.

Vaincre is dedicated to well known village personality Sylvain Lavallée, who died of HIV-related complications earlier this fall. » Matthew Woodley

This week, two world-class choreographers from near and far are back in Montreal with performances inspired by classical composers.

First up, Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato returns to town Nov. 29–30 with his group Compañía Nacional de Danza at Place des Arts. But unlike his last visit, Duato will be on stage for more than a bow. He’s performing in the first part of Bach: Multiplicity - Forms of Silence and Emptiness, a work he created based on the music, life and death of the revered German composer.

After an extensive European tour, local choreographer José Navas dances in Abstraction, also running from Nov. 28–30, at the Centre Pierre Péladeau (300 de Maisonneuve E.). It’s a solo set to the notes of Fréderic Chopin. The second part of the program features cellist Katerina Juraskova and Navas in a re-worked version of the Haman/Navas Project. For either show, make sure to reserve tickets early at 790-1245. : » Marites Carino

During the past few weeks you may have seen two women, dressed in white, walking around the streets with flowers in their mouths. Every now and again they stop and face each other; one blows a flower up in the air and the other tries to catch it in her mouth. Through snow storms and high winds, this silent, absurd choreography has been played out again and again by Ottawa dancer Karen Guttman and Montreal artist Michelle Bush. It’s a part of Galerie La Centrale’s month-long event Le Mois de la performance, with a show tonight, Thursday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m., at the gallery (460 Ste-Catherine W., #506) and several others on the street. See www.lacentrale.org for details. : » Christine Redfern

As the days get shorter and the nights colder, thoughts naturally turn to kick-ass political art. Two of San Francisco’s most influential queer performers are stopping at Elle Corazon (176 Bernard W.) on the Montreal leg of their tour. On Friday, Nov. 29, Lynn Breedlove, notorious frontman for hardcore dyke band Tribe 8, turns novelist with Godspeed, a tale of romance between a punk messenger and a stripper.

On Nov. 30, Sini Anderson drops the science she became known for as co-founder of the widely touring all girl/tranny spoken word troupe Sister Spit. “It’s a multimedia show, they’ll both have slides and music along with their pieces,” says Robin Akimbo, poet, performer and host of both evenings. “It’s very profound political work, and they’re also both hugely entertaining as artists. It’ll be funny as well as intense!” Both shows at 9 p.m., $5 in advance, $7 at the door, 273-3933 for info.

No stranger to Montreal’s radical art scene, tireless performer/activist Norman Nawrocki launches his latest and most ambitious book, The Anarchist & the Devil Do Cabaret, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent). The book includes a diary from one of Rhythm Activism’s rollicking European tours and a collection of 23 urban fairy tales written while on the road. A 7 p.m. solo reading has Nawrocki accompanying himself on a sampled violin. It’s followed by a 9 p.m. special musical performance with surprise guests. Both shows are free. : » Vincent Tinguely

Toys for thought: The Unemployed Philosophers Guild has made it possible to play finger puppet with the likes of Buddha, Che Guevera, Einstein, Frida Kahlo, Nietzsche and so many more sages. The guild’s “presents of the mind” come in boxed sets that easily convert into cardboard puppet theaters, with several series, including: Great Philosophers, Great Writers, Hamlet, Great Psychologists and Carmen (the opera). Find Freud in his office complete with chaise longue, but be warned: he insists that he’s happier outside of the box where there is more room for his ego. There’s much more than puppetry too; check out www.philosophersguild.com for all the goods. : » Amy German

Gifty goods: Santropol Roulant’s annual Oddities and Wonders Craft Sale is chock full of one-of-a-kind stuff from local artists, crafters and creative types. It’s this Saturday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (4050 St-Urbain). Every purchase supports the youth-run Meals-on-Wheels service. • More watery words: Catherine Kidd’s much-lauded in-pool spoken word spectacle, Sea Peach, has added two more shows. Soak it up this weekend, Nov. 29–30, 8 p.m., at Bain St-Michel (5300 St-Dominique), $10–$15, 987-1774 ext. 3 for more info. • Our dear Doe: Lionel Doe’s “loud, yet personal” three-channel video installation, Self Portrait looks at the relationship between film and fine art. Vernissage Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., runs until Dec. 21 at the MAI Gallery (3680 Jeanne-Mance). :

Artistat: Number of artists whose little pictures are featured in Small Paintings, an annual exhibition of mini works running at Galerie Michel-Ange (430 Bonsecours) until Dec. 22: 100 :

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