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

Drew Simpson, “Untitled” (Detail)

Today marks the opening of From Lines Into Abstraction, a group exhibit exploring the role of abstraction in graffiti art. (Check out our feature on the show here). Galerie Yves Laroche (6355 St-Laurent), vernissage Sept. 12, 5–9 p.m.

Silly Damn Thing Anyhow is the hotly anticipated first solo show by painter Drew Simpson, whose minutely detailed paintings of curiosities have scored him heaps of buzz and a nomination for last year’s RBC Canadian Painting prize for emerging artists. The show’s on through Sept. 29 and merits the hike out to Westmount to check it out. Galerie d’Este (1329 Greene), vernissage Sept. 12, , 5–8 p.m.

BBAM! Gallery welcomes Lost in the Bush (creatures, sexuality and unknown worlds), a collaborative installation by Alysha Farling and MC Turineck, who make art together under the moniker Bush Party. Explore their weird and creepy landscape populated by forlorn and genderless creatures. 3255 St-Jacques, vernissage Friday, Sept. 13, 6–10 p.m.

Learn more about the relationship between universities and the cities they inhabit at Campus Development, a presentation by CCA residents Nicolas Barrette, Tings Chak and Daniel Nedecki. Canadian Centre for Architecture (1920 Baile), Sept. 13, 5–7 p.m.

Galerie La Centrale Powerhouse is all decked out in Handbag Hammer Meditation, a performative installation by Australian multimedia artist Justene Williams, who uses salvage, waste and recycling to fashion a poppy commentary on our relationships with stuff. 4296 St-Laurent, vernissage Sept. 13, 7 p.m., artist talk Sept. 14, 3 p.m.

Finally, if you’re the type who’d rather make art than look at it, Cult MTL’s film editor Kayla Marie Hillier has organized an artist’s social, NDQ Drink n’ Draw. Notre Dame des Quilles (32 Beaubien E.), 6–8 p.m. ■