Post-office art

Feel like a stiff at vernissages? Does the imperative to come up with sharp insights on confusing artworks make you weak in the knees? Rather be making a business deal?

"There's a lot of prejudice in the art world," says Nicolas Marullo, lawyer, businessman and founder of CINCO/Celebration of Existence, a multifarious art event for the après-office crowd. "The point is to bring the business world to a place where they feel comfortable."

Every Thursday, until May 29, CINCO unfolds as an "endless 5 à 7" at Worldbeat (1234 de la Montagne). Five floors hold a surprise mix of art forms - shaped for punch and unpredictability by artistic director Carlito Dalceggio. "There's no telling in advance," explains Marullo, "and everything happens in flashes. There might be a five-minute capoeira performance that starts in one place, then a fashion show later on somewhere else, and live cooking somewhere else."

Marullo sees CINCO as gainful for both artists and businesspeople, a way to get work out to a wider (read: wealthier) public and a future platform for launches and networking. "This is a place where you can can just go to have a drink with a friend," he says, "or make business contacts or talk to the artists. Usually you have no choice, but here, if you want to listen, you do." » Matthew Woodley

Igloolik icebreaker

Qaraaluktuq, pronounced just as it looks and meaning "cracking ice underfoot" in Inuktitut, is the title musician-composer Michael Reinhart chose for his new album, which features singers of Nunavut.

Reinhart was inspired to create the record after travelling to Igloolik in 2000 to conduct a workshop in music, movement and storytelling with local choreographer Lin Snelling. There he met album collaborators Pakak Innuksuk, who starred in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, artist Susan Avingaq, the group Unikatuatit and throat-singer Rhonda Uttak.

Awestruck by the beauty and power of the ice, Reinhart analogizes, "I like the idea of walking on new territory and breaking the ice between my collaborators, who live in a whole other world."

In a special record-launch performance, Reinhart enlisted local choreographers Tony Chong, Deborah Dunn, Alain Francoeur, Jeff Hall, Lin Snelling and Mariko Tanabe to choose a track from the album and create a work to the music. See it on May 3, 9 p.m., at O Patro Vys (356 Mont-Royal E.), 845-3885 to reserve. » Marites Carino

Hey kids, (free) comics!

Forget Christmas, the day for free swag to mark on your calendar is Saturday, May 3, now Free Comic Book Day for the second year running. As of 10 a.m. this Saturday, stores like Cosmix (931 Décarie, metro Côte-Vertu) will be passing out funnybooks at no cost. "It started last year in conjunction with the release of the Spider-Man movie," says Pierre Lamy of Cosmix, "and it went really well. The idea is to increase traffic, readership and the general awareness of comics." Up for grabs are selected titles ranging from Archie and various Marvel/DC/Image superhero fodder to cool alternative titles like Slave Labour Stories and James Kochalka's Peanut Butter & Jeremy. "People can't just take all they want," adds Lamy, "but they can take five or six, and there's no purchase required." » Rupert Bottenberg

Looks are everything

Lissa Robinson's 60 pairs of red velvet shoes, Laura Vickerson's fragile corsets and Ana Revakowicz's candy-colored latex clothes are all part of Dress at the Ellen Art Gallery (1400 de Maisonneuve W).

There's something frustrating about this exhibition, kind of like coming across a costume box and not being able to try anything on. Kevin Whitfield's knitted body suits, complete with hands and appendages, are wearable, but the artist wants them to be looked at as sculpture. Catherine Sylvain has made a paper dress tower ideal for playing Rapunzel, but due to insurance reasons you can't climb the ladder to access the top of the dress. Could we really not sign a waiver and experience the piece?

The work in Dress is quite good, but as Barry Ace says, when discussing "Parallel Tasking," his Anishinaabe-beaded ceremonial vest that incorporates computer resistors, "No culture is static." So why do we continue to show artists working with non-traditional mediums in the traditional "don't touch" white-cube setting? Runs until May 31. Info: 848-4750. » Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

EMPIRICAL STATE: As long as science continues to discover and redefine, books compiling coffee-table-friendly tidbits of science trivia will keep apace. Dr. Joe Schwarcz, McGill prof, CJAD call-in science show host and author, has put out an eclectic and colourful one, The Way the Cookie Crumbles: 62 All-New Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life. A few things learned: the ancient Sumerians brewed at least 16 varieties of beer - which, in moderation, is healthy should you not have heard already. Eating mashed potatoes improves memory in ageing adults. Oobleck, the intriguing substance that fell on the Kingdom of Dibb in Dr. Seuss's Bartholemew and the Oobleck, is simply one pound cornstarch, 14 ounces water and a little green. ECW Press, pb, $17.95.

ArtsHole

ROLL OF THE DICE: Local painters Erik Slutsky and Frank Imperato collected painting theme suggestions from friends and family, randomly picked them out of a box, and used what they selected as the basis for 12 large canvases that they simultaneously painted. Coup de dés shows at Galerie Bernard (3926 St-Denis) until May 17. • RECYCLED WAX: Old vinyl records are reborn as artifacts such as lamps and furniture in Kerry Harmer's Eco Tone, an exhibition that gives another take on music as a consumable product. It shows at Mojo (3968 St-Laurent) until May 5. • DENIM MASS: Carole Baillegeron uses over 100 pairs of jeans in her textile exhibition, L'arbre est dans ses feuilles, running at Galerie Art Mûr (5826 St-Hubert) from May 3–28.

ARTISTAT: Number of books, records, mags and more going for $1 or less at the Amis de la Bibliothèque de Montreal's book sale, until May 4 at the Étienne Desmarteau Arena (3430 Bellechasse), 872-9228: 55,000

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