Pseudo-suicides and sleeping men

Four Works, an exhibition by red-hot international artiste Ene-Liis Semper opens tonight, June 19, at the Saidye (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine). These short videos of Semper acting out simple scenes in ascetic surroundings capture our attention without relying on the pervasive bag of tricks of special effects and a driving soundtrack. The work itself is a mélange of performance, video, film and theatre.

Semper herself is the protagonist in these videos, though she acts as a representation of any human being. "I am in most of them because my ideas are just a little bit too extreme to use somebody else to do them," she explains.

In Come, Semper beckons us towards the light at the end of the tunnel. In Oasis her mouth acts as a receptacle for dirt. FF/REW is a hypnotic video that I found hard to take my eyes off - which is strange considering it’s an endless loop of the artist either hanging or shooting herself. The final piece, Sleeping Man, is a two-part projection: one of a sleeping man, one of a naked woman standing next to the bed. In Semper’s hand, the physical body leads us again and again to freely contemplate our mental reality. Very subtle and deeply perceived. Runs until Sept. 7, 739-2301. » Christine Redfern

The great salsa switch-up

Men lead and women follow in salsa, right? Not any more. Transplanted Mexican Susana Vargas is teaching a spicy new class at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) where, as she explains, "there are no specific gender roles for men and women and what they are supposed to do."

Vargas got the idea for the classes when she was growing up. "It started in Mexico when we were dancing," she explains. "In my family I have a lot of brothers, and when we dance they would always lead. I never had the option to turn. So I just didn’t like that." Vargas is giving people the option to learn the role they want. "In the end, people end up learning both," she says.

The one-hour free lessons start at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, followed by a salsa free-for-all. "I want this class to be in a relaxed environment," says Vargas, "more like in Mexico where it’s part of the culture - as opposed to having perfect timing." » Marites Carino

Talking trash

Manuela Lalic’s exhibition La partie visible de l’iceberg occupies galerie Plein sud (150 de Gentilly E., Longueuil). The installation is made from the unattractive debris of daily life - old shoes, broken umbrellas, leftover bread, chewed gum. It oscillates between feeling like the excessive wastefulness of riches, to the careful hoarding of poverty where nothing is wasted.

For me, the most interesting part of the work is the illusion obtained by Lalic with the doorways bulging with twisted garbage bags. These create the feeling that at any moment we could be buried by the junk they are just barely containing. Initially I felt the exhibition would have been better with less; there are poetic moments hidden among the trash, but the bulk of stuff is forgettable. Though that’s kind of like life itself. Runs until June 29, (450) 679-2966, ext. 4480. » Christine Redfern

Good idea

If you had found yourself in a classroom way back when with Jorge Zontal, AA Bronson, and Felix Partz - the Canadian artists who formed General Idea - they’d have been the snarky trio sitting in the back, thinking they had it all figured out. The way to become famous artists, the group decided, was to proclaim themselves to the public as such. Their artwork used different forms of media culture to create a collective identity, showcased in the travelling exhibition: General Idea. Editions 1967–1995.

To the group’s credit, the documents on display - from beauty pageant paraphernalia, to issues of a magazine they founded called FILE, to posters and postcards - contain a lot of substance without the too-common preoccupation with style. The work is filled with humour and also raises some interesting issues about queer theory and consumer culture. It’s showing at Galerie Leonard & Bina Ellen (1400 de Maisonneuve W.) until Aug. 9. » Kim Waldron

Is it Art?

MONTREAL A-MAZE: Beginning next fall, should anyone tell you to get lost, think no further than NDG. September will see Montreal bestowed with its first permanent public labyrinth, set to be built on the grounds of the RQM United Church (Terrebonne, between Mariette and Rosedale). A traditional Chartres design will be laid out in the outline of our island, made of shrubbery and containing special bricks from places of conflict across the globe including Iraq, Northern Ireland and Oka. The labyrinth will be usable to the sight impaired, with a complex path but no choices in direction. Builders cite big benefits of walking the path, such as stress reduction, solutions to complex problems from using the right (creative/intuitive) side of the brain, and new understandings on being human.

ArtsHole

HIGH ON MED: The first ever Montreal Lebanese Festival kicks off this weekend at Marcelin Wilson Park (11301 Acadie), celebrating Lebanese folklore and tradition with music, performance and good grub. The official opening’s on Friday, June 20, at 5 p.m., and the fest runs through June 22, 821-9595 for more info. • MAIN ATTRACTION: Lamposts on St-Laurent take on a whole new light as they’re turned over to 13 artists and designers who will alter them to reflect the character of Main-dwellers. Leading Lights is a part of the Main Madness street sale, which runs from June 19–22.

ARTISTAT: Distance in kilometres along the Laurentian’s P’tit train du nord bicycle trail (between Lafontaine and Lac Carré) in which you can roll through live art and performance on weekends from June 21–July 5, as Kilomètr’art stretches out its second edition: 75

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