The staging's set

Under Pressure, Montreal's favourite aerosol-fuelled block party, is back this Sunday, Aug. 15, bringing together an eclectic gang of international fly-by-night miscreants to throw up art on the walls behind Foufounes Électriques (87 Ste-Catherine E.). "The demographic is huge," confirms organizer Sterling Downey. "We've got people who have kids flying in from other countries and staying in hotels, we've got 13-year-olds. People come together because they're graffiti enthusiasts."

This is the ninth year of art, hip hop, breakdancing, lowriding, skateboarding, etc. at UP, and the second where writers are charged a somewhat contentious fee to participate - $30 this year. Paying to make art goes against the graffiti ethos to some, but Downey is quick to justify. "It's like buying ownership," he says. "We're erecting real estate. Plus, writers get a T-shirt, a magazine, admission to the Foufs and five cans of paint. Most people don't have a problem with that."

Always rife with politics, the graffiti world. And of course there are many who see the work as eyesore not art, as recent letters to the editor in the Mirror will attest. Whatever your stand, the perpetrators will be out in broad daylight for once, so go take a gander - you might even find yourself impressed. UP runs from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. (free), before the party moves inside Foufounes and continues until 3 a.m. ($5). » Matthew Woodley

Ill communication

Simple and striking, the work of painter Luc Paradis is a balanced mix of darkness and humour, blending cartoonish characters or subjects with snippets of seemingly ambiguous language, all in an honest aspiration to put across where he's at. "I tend to alienate myself and I often find it hard to communicate socially," he says. "These are a way to get out what I'm feeling."

People from Paradis' life, real or imagined, become the subjects in the reconstituted fragments he puts to paper: a woman he wants to meet, a boozed-out bar brawler, a playfully gnarled house with a doormat that says "go away" yet is most certainly inviting you in. His show of 12 drawings and a series of paintings opens today, Aug. 12, 8 p.m. at La Salle d'Attente (aka Pharmacy Esperanza, 5490 St-Laurent) with DJs 'n' drinks. It runs for a month. » Matthew Woodley

Universal pictures

"The spontaneous gesture that brings the primal energy to the surface," begins Carlito Delceggio in his ebullient summation of his newest body of drawings and paintings, L'archéologie du moment. It fits like a silky glove. Delceggio is a mega-sensuous cosmic gypsy, his paintings are earthy and ethereal, they give a strong sense that he creates them in his bare feet. Mostly the products of a recent sojourn to Paris, his exhibition opens at Galerie [sas] (372 Ste-Catherine W., #416) with friends Pierre Delceggio, Stéphane Cooke, Lyle Owerko, Thomas Csano, Philippe Dubuc and Sublana today, Aug. 12, 5:30 p.m. ,and continues until the 29th. » Matthew Woodley

Trees and toes

With most traditional dance spaces asleep for the summer, the Théâtre de Verdure is still where it's at for dance during these mildish nights. Keep an eye out for activity on Aug. 13 and 14 this week, when it hosts a contemporary dance company that's starting to gain attention.

Le Jeune Ballet du Québec, which closed the Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur last month, is composed of 16- to 20-year-old students enrolled at the École nationale de ballet contemporain under the direction of Didier Chirpaz.

In this run of performances, watch out for a new work by choreographer Mário Radacovsky (former member of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens) and French choreographer Christophe Garcia. Catch a glimpse of this growing outfit before they take off for Florida. To keep on top of the schedule in the heart of Parc LaFontaine, log on to www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/culture. » Marites Carino

Is it Art?

DOGGIE DINGER: For some reason, ringing those little bells on hotel reception counters is incredibly fun. There's something innately satisfying in the light slapping motion, the particular timbre of the ring and the smug authority afforded by such a cheerful sound. David Perry, inventor of the Gotta Go Dog Doorbell, has cleverly clued in to the potential of this brand of bell when integrated into the habits of dogs. Gotta Go works simply: a canine with the urge to urinate trots over to the door and gives the bell a ding, thus notifying its owner of its desire to be let outside. All of this is contingent on proper training, of course, something Perry makes easier through an accompanying video that teaches positive instruction in three simple steps. The whole kit and caboodle is available at www.planeturine.com, $19.95 (U.S.).

ArtsHole

HOMEGROWN HOMAGE: Painter Charles Leibovitch pays homage to his late father, Norman Leibovitch, whose realist-meets-expressionist paintings evoked life in his native Montreal as well as in Mexico and Israel from his repeated travels there. The exhibition opens on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Galerie d'art d'Outremont (41 St-Just) and continues until Sept. 3. • ART IDOL: ARTtraction, the ongoing visual art expo and contest where the public chooses the champion, continues at the Club St-James (1145 Union) with work by 50 artists on display until Aug. 31. Voters automatically get entered in a draw for one of three prizes to boot, including a signed work from the winner, a fancy dinner and gift certificates, www.cheryart.com for more details.

ARTISTAT: Number of ciggy-turned-books-'n'-crafts distribution machines that will be open for business in Montreal when Louis Rastelli launches his newest Distroboto on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 5 p.m.–1 a.m., free, at the Cheval Blanc (809 Ontario E.) with music by Les Abdigradationnistes and Matt Ledermane: 4

>> Arts Listings