If you like cute things and comix (aka if you have a heart) — Natasha Allegri will be at VanCAF this weekend! [natazilla.tumblr.com]
Monday May 19
TORONTO
Doored 15, 8pm, Double Double Land, 209 Augusta Ave, $7
Doored is back with a whack ton of performances by Broken Pencil pals Fake Injury party, as well as Chris Boni, Laura McCoy, Sara Henessey, Neil Lapierre, Lisa Smolkin and CN Tower Liquidation. And if you can’t reach, it’s streaming online at http://new.livestream.com/doubledoubleland
Wednesday May 21
TORONTO
In partnership with Inanna Publications, Beit Zatoun is celebrates the launch of an important anthology compiling the diverse thoughts and voices of Arab feminists.
Editors Ghadeer Malek and Ghaida Moussa, alongside contributors, will read and discuss some of the issues at hand.
Made in Canada: Video Games as National Art, 7pm. Metro Hall, 55 John St
What makes a video game Canadian? Can we talk about a video games as a national art? Perhaps you can tell by the title, but speaker Raphael van Lierop will argue as much.
words(on)stages, The Central, 603 Markham St, PWYC
The launch of (parenthetical, a new literary magazine for emerging writers, as well as a whack of readings and zines to be enjoyed. Spencer Gordon and Dagmar Morgan read, plus an open mic.
Pivot Reading Series, 8pm, Press Club, 850 Dundas West, $5 suggested donation (https://www.facebook.com/events/703479573050314/)
Hots Jacob McArthur Mooney welcomes Jason Guriel, Chris Hutchinson, Melanie Mah and Shane Neilson to the popular reading night.
Margaux Williamson’s book of paintings, an “in-depth art catalogue for an exhibit that never existed at The Road at the Top of the World Museum,” launches this week. The book also includes essays by Chris Kraus, Leanne Shapton, David Balzer, Mark Greif, and the show’s theoretical curator, Ann Marie Peña. Author Derek McCormack hosts a Q&A with the creator while Daniel Vila DJs. You can see an excerpt of the book here.
Thursday May 22
Milk Glass Co welcomes people iunto their studio to enjoy photography and projections by a slew of artists. Vending machines by No Fun Press and tunes form DJ Damien Thirst, the alter-ego of local art prince Alex McLeod.
Saturday May 24
VANCOUVER
Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, 10am-6pm (Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun), 181 Roundhouse Mews, free
VanCAF is going down all weekend! TCAF’s West Coast equivalent will feature tons of cool guests including Natasha Allegri, Becky & Frank, Ed Brisson, Camilla D’Errico, Madeline Flores and way more. Comix people, don’t miss out!
TORONTO
Once more, the amazing coalition of indie promoters and show-bookers Wavelength, Weird Canada, Pleasence Records, Silent Shout, Healing Power Records and Burn Down the Capital/Feast in the East join to bring you buckets of fun: a full day of performances and parties including a ton of unimaginably cool Toronto super-groups debuting at the Comfort Zone.
Sunday May 25
MISSISSAUGA
Leila Pourtavaf curates the work of Middle Eastern and South Asian artists working with gender and sexuality. Fragmentation, wuestions, nationalism, fantasies. Runs through July 27.
TORONTO
Over 50 vendors of books, zines, magazines, chapbooks, small press and other print goodies at the Gladstone. Partial proceeds to the Children’s Book Bank.
Underdog Poets Academy, 7:30pm, The Central, 603 Markham St
Melanie Hrymak, A.G. Pasquella and Mike Suave read, followed by an open mic.