| The
art of >> A look at the goodies for gallery-goers this summer by MARK SLUTSKY
And as tourists flood the city lookin’ for summer fun, you may want to seek refuge at L’Espace VOX. Landscapes and Leisurescapes is an exhibit of huge photos by Doug Hall of traveller-thronged tourist spots around the world (to Aug. 18). As befitting his stature in the Quebec art world, the recently deceased Jean-Paul Riopelle will be the subject of two shows in the coming months. This month the Musée des beaux-arts opens the simply titled Riopelle, a wide-ranging retrospective. On display will be nearly 100 works by the late legend, with paintings ranging from his earliest efforts to his most recent (June 20-Sept. 29). Another art giant is paid homage to in Pierre Leblanc’s À la recherche de l’oreille de Van Gogh, at the Maison de la culture Mercier (8105 Hochelaga). The exhibit has Leblanc reflecting, through sculpture, on the tormented last years of Vincent Van Gogh. Check out the giant ear (June 22-Aug. 18). Artist Norman Toupin works largely with found materials-to the point where he’s even built his own house entirely from recycled stuff. The appropriately titled Le musée incroyable de Normand Toupin is another Maison de la culture show, this one at the Mdlc Rosemont Petite-Patrie (6707 Lorimier). It promises an assortment of Toupin’s works, all made of old objects that take on a new life under the artist’s hand (July 3-Aug. 17). Barking up the right tree The always estimable, history-based McCord Museum rolls out Gifts of the Forest: Native Traditions in Wood and Bark this month. Showing will be unbelievably beautiful native carvings and intricate baskets and other traditional, tree-derived art. Given the museum’s focus, pieces range from the historical to the contemporary (June 21-March 3). Finally, the Musée d’art contemporain’s got a busy summer schedule. Last year’s sensation, Spencer Tunick, has returned, and his photographs of nekkid Montrealers are on display in the museum’s entrance hall. Inside, visitors can find a large show of Janet Cardiff’s interactive, multimedia “walking tours,” and La Tache aveugle, recent works by Lyne Lapointe (all shows to Sept. 8). |
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The
summer art season is already upon us, with the city’s museums
and galleries gearing up for some big-time exhibition action. There’s
one show, already underway, that you’ll probably have trouble
missing, even if you’re not a regular gallery-goer: Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s
Earth From Above. Now occupying a good chunk of the sidewalk on McGill
College just above Ste-Catherine, this world-travelling show features
Arthus-Bertrand’s expansive photographs of the Earth’s surface
(to Sept. 15).