Art for a cause

Coatcheck Gallery and Local Artists Collaborate on Fundraiser for Japan

Fringe Arts — Published March 29, 2011

Community organizations across Montreal have mobilized to support Japan since the devestation that struck its coast earlier this month. Support has come from all over—including Montreal’s art community.

Coatcheck Gallery in the Mile End hopes to lend a hand to relief efforts through its multi-disciplinary Art
For Japan exhibition, opening this Saturday.

Over 25 visual artists are involved with the event, along with local bands, DJs, projectionists and local clothing shops including atelier b and Preloved.

“The organizers and myself really hope that we can translate the accessibility we have to a space like Coatcheck and to our artwork into funds that may be able to help the recovery process in some small way,” said Jo Lie, who is coordinating the show, in correspondence.

The gallery, which has a mandate to serve as an open-access space for artists, received an outpouring of submissions in the wake of the events in Japan.

“The generousity and interest that has been shown has been phenomenal,” Lie said.

The offerings span from painted postcards and pinata prints to projections and handmade jewellery, from a wide array of artists both established and upcoming.

Max Lapointe’s panorama of the insides of the metro system, digitalarch, offers a stark, nearly-empty view, five feet across, of some of the network’s most architecturally-interesting and underused stations.

Several Japanese woodblock prints have been donated to the gallery by tattoo artist Dan Innes. Innes is known for his designs, influenced by classical Japanese watercolours.

Photographer Patryk Stasieczek’s prints, influenced by mathematical fractals and the science of colour, will provide something a bit more on the abstract side.

The night will feature performances by hip-hop/soul seven-piece She’s Got A Habit, Zooey Glass and Florian, among others. Carl Lechinois will also spraypaint live graffiti.

All of the collected proceeds will go to the Japanese Red Cross society or to local artists in Sendai.
Art For Japan

Vernissage / Sat., April 2 / Coatcheck Gallery / 407-5445 de Gaspe Ave. / 7:00 p.m. / PWYC
Full exhibit / Sat. April 2 – Sat. April 9 / A complete listing of artists and events is available online

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 28, published March 29, 2011.