For over 30 years, the work of Linda Montano has blurred the line between art and life. Telling titles from a few of her early performance pieces include Handcuffed to Tom Marconi for Three Days, Declaring My Home a Museum and Doing Odd Jobs as Art.

In the '80s, Montano's performance experiences became all-out endurances. First she was tied with an eight-foot rope to fellow performance artist Tehching Hsieh for a year - they never removed the rope, and they never touched. Then in 1984, Montano started Seven Years of Living Art, where each year she lived as a different persona wearing only one colour of clothing based on the seven Chakras. Pre-defined rules and daily rituals gave structure to the work.

After completing those seven years Montano decided to do another seven. Local curator Jennifer Fisher brings Linda M. Montano: 14 Years of Living Art to the Liane and Danny Taran Gallery at the Saidye Bronfman Centre (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine). The exhibition includes clothing, other performance residuals, videos and installations involving the Chakras. Tonight, April 10, Montano will be reading at the opening and doing a one-on-one performance with members of the public. If you want more, sign up for the sleepover-workshop with Montano happening tomorrow, Friday, April 11. The exhibition runs until May 25, 739-2301 for info. » Christine Redfern

Emerging artists mix with seasonal splendour as Maisons de la Culture across town mark the start of the annual Printemps de la Danse, a touring showcase of works by local dance talent.

First up is Karine Denault with her solo Échine Barricade (I M Mobile) that deals with space and its restrictions. If you didn't catch Victor Quijada, founder of the Rubberbanddance Group, last month, he's presenting Tender Loving Care, an engaging trio that looks at relationships. Lastly is another work for three by choreographer Hinda Essadiqi. Naufrage en 3 temps takes the spectators through the turbulence of love with two wooden poles as central props.

Catch the show April 10 at the MdlC Plateau Mont-Royal (465 Mont-Royal E.), April. 15 at Frontenac (2550 Ontario E.), and April 16 at Côte-des-Neiges (5290 Côte-des-Neiges). Performances are free, but pick up a pass in advance to guarantee seating. » Marites Carino

Partially to celebrate the (reluctant) arrival of spring, poet Joshua Auerbach is putting together a reading at Cafe Pi (4127 St-Laurent) featuring T. Anders Carson, a poet based in Portland, Ontario. "We met at a small press fair," says Auerbach. "He writes sometimes from the dark side of poetry; at the same time there's a real sense of humour, of levity to his work." Also invited are local scribes Jason Gallagher and Eleni Z. Auerbach.

Although it isn't an official launch, there'll be copies of a brand spanking new issue of Vallum, the literary journal Auerbach's been publishing for a few years. He explains, "The current issue is somewhat meditative in focus, but at the centre of it are questions about what individual role do you or I play in what's happening around us." It includes an interview with Stephanie Bolster, visual art, essays, reviews and of course, poetry! Friday, April 11, 9 p.m., free. » Vincent Tinguely

Twenty local artists working with goo, glue and the like will show off their works this weekend at Adhesive, an art-party/vernissage/exhibit kick-off at the artists' space The Long Hall (450 Beaumont). As the title suggests, this is a loosely themed show with a bunch of variations on the subject. Large-format photography, collage, bead-weaving and more will all be on display.

The event organizers promise something a little different from what they call a "don't-know-what-to-say-where's-the-wine" type of vernissage; everyone is invited to show up in a costume befitting the theme, there'll be a room for visitors to make their own adhesive art, and guests will be invited to sample a variety of sticky treats. DJs John and Lynn T. will provide a musical backdrop for the night. The combo art launch/costume party goes down this Friday, April 11, at 8 p.m., and the show will be up till April 25. Call 948-0227 for daytime gallery hours. » Mark Slutsky

A new scent has come: Once the rash subsided, I can honestly say that Celine Dion's new fragrance is not nearly as vile as anticipated. Not to be outdone by the likes of J-Lo, Michael Jordan or Elizabeth Taylor, Dion has jumped on the signature-scent bandwagon. The vedette has partnered with cosmetics giant Coty (Stetson cologne) in coming out with a collection of eau de toilette, body lotion and shower gel. The Diva writes that she was looking for something that would appeal to "one's senses and emotions," like her music, no doubt. Not to worry, unlike her last album, A New Day, this sweet and lightly floral scent isn't capable of inducing violent spasms. » Amy German

Lovin' the elevator: The spawn of a two-year residency, Diana Sherwood's personal photographic interpretation of the giant grain silo in the Old Port (16 de la Prince), Silo Nº5, continues at the Darling Foundry (745 Ottawa) until May 4. • Another Big Brother: Montreal is the first of 10 cities to be explored in the CITYSNAPPER_ OBSERVATOIREX project, Olivier Vanderaa's Web-based, daily documentation of urban photos and citizens' statements. Follow Vanderaa's path though the city on the grid-map interface at www.o-vanderaa.com/citysnapper/. • Pseudo-story: Michael A. Robinson's multimedia mélange, Sweet Dreams, "a narrative with no real subject or pre-established structure," continues at Skol (460 Ste-Catherine W.) until May 10.

ARTISTAT: Number of head toppers dating from the early 1800s to the present on display at A Retrospective on Hats, a fundraiser put on by the Sarah Cook Fund of the Cedars Cancer Institute for Children, April 11–13 at Ogilvy's Tudor Hall (1307 Ste-Catherine W., 5th Floor), $5: 170

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