On the walls: the art you need to see this week

Painting from Topographies, by John Ancheta.

Llallagua is a photo exhibit that tells the story of a mine in Bolivia, exclusively operated by locals with little to no government involvement. The exhibition is the work of Montreal-born Alexis Aubin, a winner of the third edition of the “L’Homme et l’environnement” photo contest. Vernissage April 16, Maison du Développement Durable (50 Ste-Catherine W.), 5 p.m.

Also this evening, the PHI Centre hosts a panel discussion about the relationships between Haiti and foreign artists, featuring U.K. photographer Leah Gordon (whose Kanaval exhibit recently visited Montreal; read more here) and Michaëlle Jean. April 16, 407 St-Pierre, 7 p.m., free

For those who prefer their art in book form, there are two simultaneous events Wednesday. First up, Librairie Drawn and Quarterly welcomes cartoonist Gilbert Hernandez (of LOVE & ROCKETS fame), who will present a slideshow on his creative process and his discuss his new autobiographical work Marble Season at the book’s Montreal launch party. Read our interview with him here. 211 Bernard W., 7 p.m., free

Meanwhile, a new local publication called Grandparents Zine meets the world with a launch and reading. The collaborative zine is edited by local artist Kerri Flannigan (creator of Nailbiter anxiety zine, which snagged the award for best English zine at Expozine a few years back), who invites local authors to contribute, then illustrates their short stories. This round features readings by Sarah Pupo, Marty Fink, Cult MTL lit critic Jeff Miller and Kerri Flanagan. April 17, Depanneur Le Pick-Up (7032 Waverly), 7 p.m., free

BBAM! Gallery presents Paul Burgoyne, a Vancouver-based painter whose work mixes the fantastical and material. The collection features a range of disciplines, paintings of landscapes to nudes, still life and sculpture, all of which borrow elements from the surreal and blend it into the every day. Vernissage April 18, BBAM! Gallery (3255 St-Jacques), 5 p.m.

St-Henri gets a little lovin’ with the Meublez St-Henri gallery opening. The gallery takes a glimpse at the people, places, shops, haunts and everyday living that that make-up the neighbourhood. Artist Angela Thomson will be present to explain her process and ideas, along with her representation of the beloved Southwestern borough. Vernissage April 18, Galerie Point Rouge (3522 Notre-Dame), 5 p.m.

Battat Contemporary teams up with John Ancheta to bring about his third solo project with the gallery, Topographies. In this installation, Ancheta tackles American contemporary culture from the perspective of decaying urban landmarks and the rise of industrialization, what he got from a recent cross-country American road trip. Vernissage April 18, Battat Contemporary (7245 Alexandra), 6 p.m

The houses that make up the ecosystem in Myriam Tapp’s Memoire d’une Ville prompt questions about a shifting urban landscape. Sometimes, they’re abandoned, empty shells, sometimes they big or small but all are representative of the stories we can tell from the given architecture of a place. Vernissage April 20, Galerie Les Territoires (372 Ste-Catherine W., #527), 3 p.m.