Make some noise!

L'Art qui fait Boum, an exhibition recurring every three years that showcases up-and-coming Quebec artists, is back for a second edition. Housed in the Bonsecours Market (350 St-Paul E.), the event has more than doubled in scale, presenting photography, performance, installation and short films. The artworks occupy the interior gallery space, the windows and the street beyond.

What most captured my imagination were the pieces that oscillated between security and disaster: Rachel Echenberg's video of her being buried in snow and Chloé Lefebvre's cake plate, ready to spill when you take the top off. Catherine Bodmer's Bounce, with its steam-emitting vents, while designed to conjure up "fresh-scented memories," really brought to mind the Tom Waits' line, "Smoke was coming out of the sewers/Like the goddamn city was going to blow."

There were downsides, like only being able to view one film at a time. It would be better to screen them on multiple TVs with DVDs so the audience could chose what to watch depending on time available. But all-in-all, the size and diversity of this exhibition makes it a perfect vehicle to talk about Quebec art and where it is going. The way to kill the spirit of this show, especially with its title, is to greet it with silence. Runs until June 8, $3. Info: 844-4388 ext. 225 or www.artquifaitboum.qc.ca. » Christine Redfern

For your eyes only

Geordie Theatre Productions has snagged another great company to share with Montreal audiences. Theatre Beyond Words is finally here with the Potato People - oversized heads on expressive human bodies - in their classic Nuthin' but Trouble. Find yourself a kid from four to eight who speaks any language, as Theatre Beyond Words is internationally renowned for its physical, non-verbal style, which interweaves puppetry, sound, music, vocalization and silence. "I've been wanting to treat audiences to this wonderful brand of mask-mime theatre ever since I saw them wow audiences at the Vancouver Theatre Festival," says Geordie artistic director Elsa Bolam. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Nuthin' but Trouble - a day in the life of the Potato Family involving a confounding garbage can, a very intense chess set and the loudest Discman you'll ever hear. The show runs April 25–May 4 at Concordia's D.B. Clarke Theatre (1455 de Maisonneuve W.); for tix call 845-1955. » Janis Kirshner

Eraser head

Marking a departure from the regular programming at Zeke's Gallery (3955 St-Laurent), which generally features first solo shows, Martha Fleury's exhibition Traces opens tonight. The award-winning artist is in town to fulfill her PhD requirements for Concordia University, and Zeke's director Chris Hand says, "I might just have to turn the space into a white cube. I feel a bit like René Blouin without the Rolodex". Fleury presents 10 new large-scale drawings done in her signature style. Each canvas is covered with graphite and the image is erased into the surface. Fleury writes that this work "reaches into the viewer's past and pulls on faded or forgotten memories of friends and family." Makes me also remember that erasure exercise from early drawing classes. The show runs through May 4. » Christine Redfern

Mass appeal

"I've always been interested yet threatened by crowds," says choreographer Suzanne Miller when talking about the genesis of her latest project, En Masse. For the past week-and-a-half, Miller and visual artist Andrew Forster have been artists-in-residence at dance space Tangente (840 Cherrier), creating and rehearsing their work, which they call a study in crowds.

But in order to study a crowd, you've got to find one first. About 100 participants were recruited through flyers and word-of-mouth. The results: a hodgepodge of people emerged, the majority non-dancers, to participate in this movement work, which explores the crowd qualities of anonymity and unpredictability.

Forster warns not to expect a "chorus line" or anything comparable in this hour-long show. Instead, the duo is working with everyday movement that is accessible to all, where the beauty lies in the simplicity of movements multiplied. En Masse runs Apr. 24–27; call 525-1500 for tix. » Marites Carino

Is it Art?

N34! G56!: Art organization/gallery Dare-Dare holds their annual fundraiser, Bingo Funky, this Friday, April 25. Bubble Bugaloo and Zipertatou are your hosts, and organizations ranging from Ex-Centris to burger joint La Paryse (as well as some local artists) have donated prizes. Entry is $9 ($7 if you're a Dare-Dare member), and includes five bingo cards and a stamper. The fun begins at 8 p.m. at Centre des loisirs communautaires Lajeunesse (7378 Lajeunesse, metro Jean-Talon).

ArtsHole

Abandoned industry: Dani Hausmann's new photo exhibit, Redpath Sugar, explores the abandoned Lachine Canal-area factory of the same name. It shows April 24–May 25 at the Mdlc Marie-Uguay (6052 Monk). • Ode to April: In honour of National Poetry Month, new Montreal poetry/spoken word/music series Broken Spoke is putting on a big show this Thursday, April 24 at Grumpy's Bar (1242 Bishop). Maureen Scott Harris, Robert M. Smith, Peter Harris, Maia Davies and the Polyesters perform, 8 p.m., free. • Meet Margaret: Canada's own literary celeb Margaret Atwood will be in town this Sunday, April 27 at Indigo (Ste-Catherine and McGill-College), signing copies of her new book, Oryx and Crake. The signing and talk are at 2:30 p.m., but you might want to show up early to beat the crowds.

ARTISTAT: Number of artifacts from Varna necropolis, a 6,000-year-old Bulgarian burial ground, on display at the Pointe-à-Callière Archeology Museum until May 25: 300

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