History revisited, ridiculed

Greeted first by headless potato-sack-like humans and the etching series, Figures for My Friends Who Drink, Lie and Rob Me, I blindly wandered into the unknown world of painter Kamila Wozniakowska at the Musée d'art contemporain last week.

The first works, from the early '90s, are followed by canvases divided into multiple panels containing witty and absurd narratives about petty criminals and humorously inept social interactions. Her paintings, mainly populated by men, are artistic descendents, she says, "of satirical etchings done in the past." Titles such as "The Reason Why Cain Killed Abel," "El Matador Practicing, Being Disturbed by an Unidentified Activist" and "Saint Sebastian Receiving Unsolicited Advice on Professional Martyrdom" give an indication of the sarcastic and irreverent tone Wozniakowska achieves in these works. The coming together of theatrical, literary and historical fragments results in an ironic and disrespectful revisiting of historical subject matter that gave me the most pleasure I have had in a long time from painting. Exhibition runs until April 18, info: 847-6226. » Christine Redfern

Bold words and
love signs

This year's trilingual Festival Voix d'Amériques is a sizzling, six-day affair (Feb. 13–19), featuring special guests like Anishnaabe poet Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Toronto sound poet John Sobol and one-time Montreal phenom Nah-ee-lah, an open-mic poetry slam hosted by the ebullient Johnny Cheesecake ($50 cash prize!), and a "Theatre Journey in Spanish and French."

Helping knit it all together is Alexis O'Hara, who's playing host to the first three "big ticket" evenings. She'll be creating personas each night, including an air hostess, a sociologist probing the meaning of "québécois," and New Age icon Emeliana Crudivora. "She's hyper flakey," O'Hara explains. "She talks about chakra spinning and love signs - perfect for the Valentine's Day show."

The festival's big shows are all at Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), doors 8:30 p.m., $8. Open mics, round tables and such are at Casa del Popolo, (4873 St-Laurent), 5 p.m., (sign up for slams at 4:30 p.m.), free. Info: www.fva.ca. » Vincent Tinguely

Sweet Kane

Though her early work caused outrage, Sarah Kane has become one of the most celebrated English playwrights in the world and has often been pegged with the Genius label since her suicide five years ago at age 28. Considered by many to be her best play, En Manque (Crave) will be presented by The Other Theatre this week, a remounting of their successful French-language run last spring, translated by Philippe Ducros and directed by Stacey Christodoulou. It runs from Feb. 17–28, 8 p.m., with additional performances Feb. 20–21 and 27–28, 11:30 p.m., at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance). Seating tops out at 35 per show so call 982-3386 to reserve, pay what you can. » Matthew Woodley

AIDS arrangement

Renowned composer John Corigliano comes to Montreal on Monday, Feb. 16, to speak about the creation of his most famous compositions, "Symphony No. 1, Of Rage and Resistance," written in memory of friends he lost to AIDS. Composer of the score for The Red Violin and winner of the 2001 Pulitzer prize for his "Symphony No. 2," Corigliano is equally known for his Grammy-winning "No. 1," which he wrote in the late '80s and has since been played by over 125 orchestras around the world.

The lecture takes place in Concordia's Hall building (1455 de Maisonneuve W., room H-110) at 6 p.m. and will be followed later in the week by a performance of the piece by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, opening on Feb. 17, 7 p.m., at Place des Arts, which Corigliano will introduce, 848-2424 ext. 7998 for more info. » Matthew Woodley

Is it Art?

FLOWER FETISH: While the people who brought us seedless watermelon and fish-gene tomatoes slave away on a rose that won't wilt, Cuir Northbound's forever-lasting leather roses keep selling like hotcakes. (Rumour even has it that Northbound's leather roses have recently surpassed hotcakes in overall sales, though this couldn't be confirmed by presstime.) Since 1989, the store - which opened a Montreal outlet last summer as sister to its long-booming T.O. location - has sold the sexy, handcrafted, hide-pedaled flowers year round and en masse come cupid time of course. The flowers, which come in red or black, are available at the store (1323 Ste-Catherine E.) or online at www.northbound.com, for $30 - a small price to pay for eternal love.

ArtsHole

PEACOCKS IN PASTIES: Cashing in on Montreal's booming appetite for burlesque, the Fluffgirls, led by the intrepid Chaz Royal, continue their "ongoing attempt at dominating the world of Burlesque" at the Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur E.) this Friday, Feb. 13, 9 p.m., $12–$15, www.admission.com or at the door. • BLACK TURTLENECKS OPTIONAL, DAHLING: Celebrate Valentine's day high-art styles at the Musée d'art contemporain. For a mere tenner, their romantic soirée unfolds in the gallery's intimate atmosphere, bathed in the sensual sounds of live jazz, and includes a glass of bubbly or port and a taste of the finest chocolate. Feb. 14, 5–7 p.m.

ARTISTAT: Approximate amount of light in watts that will kick off the fifth annual Montreal High Lights Festival and flare up "La Montagne," a massive pyramidal structure in front of Place des Arts, Feb. 19, 5 p.m., followed by a fireworks display and 10 whole days of activities: 500,000

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