Her exhibitions extend a Vancouver tradition of pop/punk shows at the Helen Pitt Gallery, and the now defunct Smash and Big Red Dot Galleries. Her first viewing of a Pitt show was pivotal. "Iıd seen artist known as ŒI, Braineaterı perform before as a musician, but this was my first exposure to visual art. I was 17 and broke. He gave me a beer bottle sculpture to take home. He was soŠ accessible!"

Vicki had found the heart of something red hot. Late 70ıs "underground" Vancouver was a culture of punk and rockabilly bands, visual artists, lesbians and bisexuals, S/M players and vintage collectors. This would splinter into the separate scenes that give the city international recognition. Vicki continues to live parts of herself in each of these scenes. Why call the art "low brow" and not "pop"? She explains: "This kind of art was coming out of L.A. Art magazines like "Juxtapoz" called it "low brow". I wanted to bring that word to Vancouver." Itıs working-class imagery, based on life experiences. "Itıs a language thatıs easy to communicate with," she says. She notices some people still feel the romance or loathing for the imagery. Others see it through class conflict and humour and backlash and subversion. "The fears and desires havenıt changed much," Vicki points out, "itıs how people share or relate to these reference points that adds extra meaning to these works."

Vickiıs new Tart Gallery at 1869 West 4th Ave. (Vancouver) shares space with Zulu Records store, which can bring in kids under 19. But what about Vickiıs other adult pleasures? I remind her of the Erotic World show of 1999 which she curated. I watched her accept a painting by self-titled "pornographer" R. OıConnor, that showed a penetration scene and loads of dripping come. Vicki had shouted "Yes! Yes! Thank Goodness somebodyıs putting some real smut in here!" For the next Erotic World show in November, Vickiıs plan is to set Tart Gallery up like a video store. "Weıll put the blatant stuff further into the store and hang a curtain. Weıll put up a sign saying ŒExplicit work ­ no minorsı." And sheıll encourage everyone to push themselves. In her opinion, "erotica" is a word to appropriate. It can mean "the whole range, hard and soft core."

Vickiıs art researches womenıs representation in the media. She and Nicole Steen, her partner in the gallery, paint as The Pop Tarts, exploring women from pop culture, past and present (see www.geocities.com/the_poptarts). And then thereıs Vickiıs erotic work. Paintings for the Guest Bathroom show scenes from Hawaiian fabric prints, their tiny figures acting out polymorphously perverse pleasures amidst the palms. (Check them out in Toronto at Swizzle Gallery, 1162 College St, until Sept. 24.).

Tonight weıre at Tart Galleryıs unveiling. Vicki M. is in Polynesian dress. "Iım Tribal ­ like the show!" she smiles while flashing me the bones in her ears. She looks stunning. Her gallery openings allow her to really embody her art, she says. Itıs part of being a "lifestyle culturalist," a term Toronto writer Hal Niedzviecki uses in We Want Some Too, his recent book on making sense of life through pop culture.
But sometimes, like tonight, oneıs references need to be highlighted, pulled out for special events, "or else," says Vicki, "theyıre seen as too much the norm, too unintentional. They have to be pushed to the extreme."