THURSDAY 10
The Biennale de Montréal launches its 2007 edition – subtitled Crack the Sky – under the direction of renowned independent curator Wayne Baerwaldt of Calgary. Baerwaldt has assembled a selection of recent, unpublished works from more than 60 artists using different tools – sociology, anthropology and history, among others – to interpret the aesthetic and socio-political issues affecting our society. Various locations, through July 8. Surf to www.ciac.ca/biennale2007/en/index.html. Also, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Nightlife magazine present their third 5-à-7 cocktail, Art Contemporain au MBAM. DJ Janek Bishop will spin as guests sip on wine and check out the art of Borduas, Riopelle, Molinari, Pellan and others. RSVP at 5a7mbam@nightlifemagazine.ca.
FRIDAY 11
The Biennale de Montréal presents Daft Punk’s Electroma, a visual and musical odyssey nailed at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. The flick chronicles the Daft Punk duo’s quest to become human. At the Cinémathèque québécoise (335 De Maisonneuve East) at 11 p.m. Or check out artistic director Peter Schubert’s Viva Voce: The Art of the Fugue, which explores Western music as it wends its way from the 13th century to the 1930s. At McGill’s Redpath Hall (3420 McTavish) at 8 p.m. But it’ll set you back $30.
SATURDAY 12
Montreal’s HIV/AIDS education and prevention group for gay and bisexual men, Séro Zéro, this week launches its first annual Rendez-vous de la santé et du mieux être gai. The group hosts its Salon santé gaie (1285 Amherst) from 2 to 8 p.m. with information kiosks and a vaccination clinic. Surf to www.sero-zero.qc.ca.
SUNDAY 13
The much-anticipated return of Po-lyrical, the fourth instalment of Black Theatre Workshop’s Poetry Jam Series, will feature 20 to 25 competing powerhouse performers slamming for cash at the Green Room (5386 St-Laurent) beginning at 7 p.m. Over at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance), Filipino-Canadian choreographer and dancer Alvin Erasga Tolentino presents the final performance of his critically hailed Field: Land Is the Belly of Man, a homage to traditional rice harvesting. Show time is 3 p.m.
MONDAY 14
To celebrate the Montreal-based National Circus School’s 25th anniversary, Tohu-la cité des arts du cirque presents the Désir(s) de vertige exhibition, chronicling the people and events that have played key roles in the foundation and development of the National Circus School. The exhibition runs through June 29 at the Espace SSQ at Tohu, located at the corner of Jarry and d’Iberville Streets. Surf to www.tohu.ca/en/default.aspx.
TUESDAY 15
Séro Zéro, in collaboration with Aids Community Care Montreal and COCQ-Sida, winds down its first annual Rendez-vous de la santé et du mieux être gai with their Les 10 ans des ateliers open house at Séro Zéro’s second-floor offices (2075 Plessis), from 6 to 9 p.m. A great way to meet gay Montreal’s AIDS education and prevention community.
WEDNESDAY 16
Poet D. Kimm and guitarist Bernard Falaise present their project Le Silence des hommes, based on their CD of the same name, which explores not just silence, but love – the kind of love that can hurt, overwhelm and transform lives. D. Kimm and Falaise will reprise their performance at Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) at 8:30 p.m. with a full band.
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Those who don’t act quickly know that it is impossible to get tickets for hot shows in the city on a Saturday evening. This is exactly the case for two very hot acts hitting the city this weekend: Brit sensations Arctic Monkeys and a little-known Montreal act named the Arcade Fire. The lucky few had an opportunity to purchase tickets for the latter earlier this week with additional tickets being released but even those sold out quickly for both Saturday and Sunday shows.
On a different note, Marco Calliari will be playing the Spectrum this Friday and giving us contemporary versions on old Italian folk classics. Check out his two albums Che La Vita and Mia Dolce Vita and I guarantee you’ll be humming “Tu vuò fa l’americano mmericano! mmericano!” for the entire week…
Out of the ten events that are recommended this week, three are in English, three are bilingual, and *four* are in French. This may not seem quite noteworthy to Hour readers, but most English-language publications (including the Montreal ones) tend to assume that French events are not worth their coverage, while francophone reviewers find it quite natural to cover English fare, especially when music or movies are concerned. As a francophone, I’ve always found that a tad disquieting, and I’m glad to see Burnett take a small but much appreciated stand against partition. Wish more English-Canadian papers did the same, too.
I would have to say that Mother’s Day is the most important event this weekend and many merchants take advantage of this fact to increase their sales. I will always express gratitude for my own mother who carried me inside her womb for 9 months over 50 years ago. I am indeed fortunate that as she celebrates her 80th birthday later this year, she still has the physical stamina and sharp mind of those who are 50 years younger. She taught me to read and write before attending school and cared for me the many times I was sick. She also made sure I became an excellent speller. After all these years we still have a very close relationship.
Instead of cut flowers I gave her daffodil bulbs which she planted last year and are blooming at this very moment in our garden. Instead of a meal at a fancy restaurant I have invited her as my honoured guest to the Tribute for Blood Donors on May 15 where cocktails and dinner will be served. And finally instead of a formal present I give her a gift card which she can spend any way she likes.
I’m looking forward for this Sunday to see Po-lyrical a poetry jam series from Black Theatre Workshop. They have some of the best poets this city have to offer. Thanks for the update because I would otherwise miss it.
Seriously what is the deal with the impossibility seemingly of getting tickets to the hot shows…while I can understand sort of with the best of the Jazz Festival and the best of the Just for Laughs..it is very frustrating that decent..let alone any…good tix for Arctic and Arcade were nowhere to be seen. At least I was able to use the money saved to treat my mother this weekend. Hope that y’all did the same.
“As a francophone, I’ve always found that a tad disquieting, and I’m glad to see Burnett take a small but much appreciated stand against partition. Wish more English-Canadian papers did the same, too.”–Charles Montpetit on the apparent English-language publication tendency to assume that French events are not worth their coverage.
~O~
Dude, seriously, that’s what you noticed?! Hey, I’d think that the biggest thing that stood out in this week’s hit list was that there was NO MENTION of MOTHER’S DAY!!! Hey, I admit that it isn’t on the top of my big celebrations but I assume that someone gave birth to you as they did to me and every other reader out there. THAT ought to take precedent over whatever Quebec linguistic bullshit you may have noticed. Sorry but that’s just how I feel. There’s only so much of the francophone ‘we are so precious because we are distinct’ crap that I’m prepared to stomach that I’ll gladly table this idiotic discussion for some other day. My mom nearly died last year and she’s still not out of the woods so forgive those of us who have our priorities straight this weekend. C’est tout ce que j’ai a dire…