by CHRISTINE REDFERN

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, as goes the saying, which works in more than one way with Le Mois de la Photocopie, opening this weekend at the Group of n’s new permanent exhibition space in Gallery 303 (372 Ste-Catherine W., #305). This show looks at the use of photocopies with works by Montrealers César Saëz, Maclean, José Roberto Pineda, Jason Dufresne, Jennifer Thorogood and Flo. Work explores themes of reproductive technology, social accessibility of art, instant gratification and disposability, all under a name that sounds oddly reminiscent to the other Mois de la… that’s going on in town. Three pieces are highlights from past n shows, three are new works—all reflect obsessive photocopying techniques. The coat of Thorogood’s papier maché sheep is made up of fine paper DNA strands. Saëz’s image of Andy Warhol is made from tiny Xeroxed pictures of George Bush Jr. Plus, if you’re one of the first 500 people through the gallery doors you’ll get to take home Saëz’s accompanying “Boycott American Art” button. The vernissage is on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m., runs until Oct. 18.

More politicized art can be seen in Artists Against the Occupation at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance). Thirty-one artists from across Canada and abroad present a multimedia exhibition that addresses the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The exhibition has its genesis in a project conceived by artist and human-rights activist, Mizuko Yakuwa. She appealed to creators worldwide to initiate exhibitions about this situation. This is the fourth exhibition after Tokyo, London (Ontario) and Philadelphia. It’s co-curated by Montrealers Freda Guttman and Rawi Hage and opens Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.

Also political, on Sept. 13, Pique-nique will have 20 artists squatting on the St-Laurent stretch that runs through the Old Port to bring their art to the public from 10 a.m. presumably until they get the boot.

Away from the usual haunts, there’s an exhibition under the Jacques Cartier Bridge at the Craig Station. Look for the building covered in a web of rope and a big letter “A.” Artist Marc Lincourt has wrapped the outside of the building as part of his exhibition Des lettres dans la ville, organized by the Literacy Foundation to raise awareness about illiteracy. There are also free workshops with the artist during the upcoming Journées de la Culture (Sept. 26–28), 1-800-361-9142 for more info.

Speaking of haunt, photographer Dani Hausmann’s Broken Places offers a ghostly glimpse into abandoned warehouses at ARTmajuscule (950 Ottawa), from Sept. 25–Oct. 26.

HANK HOEDOWN

For the many country music fans reading this column, you have until Oct. 12 to see Nova Scotian David Askevold’s Two Hanks at Articule (4001 Berri, #105). Two Hanks is a video and photo documentation of an NYC performance that unites Hank Williams and Hank Snow. For those more hip hop driven, check out Terminus 1525’s closing event from 9 p.m.–3 a.m. on Sept. 20 at the SAT (1195 St-Laurent), featuring a live music, movement and art collaboration called “Hold-up Mental.”

Don’t miss your first chance since the late ’80s to see a major exhibit of Sylvia Safdie’s work as The Inventories of Invention graces Concordia’s Leonard and Bina Ellen Gallery. Using materials and media such as dirt, metal, video and drawing, Safdie’s art produces meditations on land, time and memory. The exhibition includes the installation “Earth,” a large collection of steel bowls filled with soil collected from around the world. The range of colours and hues is stunning; equally surprising is the ability of this simple material in Safdie’s hands to conjure up complex thoughts of nature, home and sustenance. Exhibition runs until Nov. 1.

Nicolas Baier’s Scènes de genre, a collection of his new photo works and the big Yves Gaucher retrospective will be showing at Musée d’art contemporain. The McCord Museum’s After Notman, Photographic Views of Montreal a Century Apart is about… well it’s pretty self-explanatory. GLOBAL VILLAGE: The ’60s is at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts starting Oct. 2. It contains art, advertising, fashion, architecture and more, exploring the impact of the decade that never ends. Coinciding with the exhibit will be a series called Movies From the Sixties at the Cinémathèque québécoise.

For those who want to plunge into specific subjects, here are a few of the upcoming conferences. If you’re interested in Outsider Art, the Société des arts indisciplinés (www.sai.qc.ca) presents an international symposium on the Sept. 18–19 at the SAT. The Musée d’art contemporain explores Henri Bergson’s philosophy in the symposium Aesthetics Theories and Media Practices from Sept. 24–25. And for the more technologically inspired there’s the Virtual Systems and MultiMedia conference on Oct. 15–17. This year’s theme is “Hybrid Reality: Art, Technology and the Human Factor” and takes place at the Science Centre in the Old Port. Enjoy.