NOW Magazine Online Edition

The blockbuster show of the summer attempts to wrest colour field painting from the narrow definitions of formalist critic and bully Clement Greenberg. Colour Field Painting covers the movement from its origins in 1955 to the present, includinging works by precursors Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still . In the lineup are seminal artists Helen Frankenthaler , Morris Louis , Jack Bush and Dan Flavin as well as contemporary artists such as Monique Prieto , Polly Apfelbaum and Canada's own Guido Molinari . This is one of the most extensive colour field painting retrospectives ever assembled in one place. To August 7 at the AGO , 317 Dundas West. 416-979-6648.

Drumbeat

Speed metal, death metal, jazz , contemporary sculpture and multimedia come together in Demons Stole My Soul: Rock 'N' Roll Drums In Contemporary Art , an unprecedented tribute to the drum running June 3 to July 3 at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art . Self-playing electronic drum kits, a bronze casting of Keith Moon's destroyed kit , earth-mounted drums and a custom kit made entirely of cheese are only part of the show. Factor in live and recorded performances by Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Dj Spooky , Crytopsy drummer Flo Mounier , Dutch jazz legend Han Bennink and others. 952 Queen West. 416-395-7430.

After Hours club

French artist collective AWP asks the question, "After hours, how does one move, why, how, with whom, for what purpose and destination?" - which leads to all manner of experiments in nighttime urban mobility, highlighting issues of infrastructure, urban planning and the divide between urban and suburban. AWP works with local artists to set up nomadic light installations, mobile gardens and interactive travelling multimedia platforms, and has occasionally "hijacked" downtown buses to take participants on spontaneous trips. Now they're coming to Toronto for TorontoTroll . Join a one-night performance/migration and see where you wind up (date tba). June 23 to July 30 at Mercer Union , 37 Lisgar. 416-536-1519.

Text messaging

The Power Plant presents a mid-career retrospective of Glenn Ligon , an American artist considered to be at the forefront of his generation. He began his career by producing text-inclusive paintings that address race, personal history, representation and the African American experience. His best-known works feature carefully selected phrases or sentences from diverse literary sources, hand-stencilled and repeated on surfaces until their meaning is altered or blurred. This show features a broad selection of paintings, sculpture, prints, installation and video. 231 Queens Quay West. June 25 to September 5. 416-973-4949.

Photo giant

Since his death in 1985, one of the giants of modern photography, Andre Kertesz , continues to gather a following for his modest and lyrical vision and his genius for finding the odd and arresting detail. One of the first photographers to eschew large-format cameras in favour of the small, portable camera, he expanded the range of photography's subjects and made some of the first serious forays into photojournalism. Stephen Bulger Gallery presents Andre Kertesz: 1920s-1980s , June 30 to August 27. 1026 Queen West. 416-504-0575.

Coupland connection

Douglas Coupland , dystopian bard of the microserf generation, brings two of his art shows to Monte Clark Gallery : I Like The Future And The Future Likes Me and Lost And Gained In Translation . Word has it that they'll feature two giant Star Wars wall pieces, a collection of colourful and highly seductive visual work, chrome-plated meteorites and the figure of a pregnant human wearing a couture-trimmed NASA-manufactured spacesuit. July 28 to September 11. 55 Mill, Building 2. 416-703-1700.