RENOWNED wood designers, makers and artists will showcase their works in a rare group exhibition at Bungendore Wood Works Gallery from this Saturday, September 13 and running to November 20.

“HOME with Wood” features work by more than 20 acclaimed designers like David Upfill-Brown, Tony Kenway, Neil Erasmus, David Emery and Will Matthysen, and commemorates the opening of Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, more than 30 years ago by designer and maker David Mac Laren. Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. The exhibition will be opened at 2pm on Saturday by Professor Lyndon Anderson, Dean of the Faculty Arts and Design, University of Canberra. All welcome.

“FRAGILE Environments” describes three insightful exhibitions on the environment all opening at 6pm tonight, Thursday  at M16 in Griffith. Kerry McInnis’s paintings & Mike MacGregor’s sculptures reflect their 2012 trip travelled to the Antarctic.

THEN also at M16 in “A lightness of being,” Ngaio Fitzpatrick works with video, photography and industrial glass juxtaposes brutality and fragility, to create poetic imagery that expresses her concern with the destructive impact of human activity on the natural environment.

FINALLY, in “In Translation,” curated by Ellen V Wignell, three emerging artists, Kelly Hayes, Yasmin Masri and Jemima Parker explore the local landscape of Canberra in order to speak and translate the nuances of the region. All three shows can be seen at M16 Artspace in Griffith from 11 – 28 September, noon – 5pm, Wednesday – Sunday, with the launch tomorrow, Thursday 11 September at 6pm. All welcome.

BEN Gavin and Alexander James have a quirky show running in the foyer gallery at ANU School of Art on Ellery Cres Acton until September 20, Mon-Fri, 9-5pm and noon-5pm. I won’t tell you too much except that you’ll never look at a beer bottle the same way again after you’ve seen/heard these ones. As the creators say, “as an artist you have to balance being clever enough to have an idea and stupid enough to make it a reality.”

“HIDDEN” is an outdoor sculpture exhibition that takes place amongst the gardens and graves of Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney and runs 14 September – 12 October from sunrise to sunset. The exhibition invites artists to ponder the notion of history, culture, remembrance and love and allows audiences to witness creative expression hidden throughout Australia’s largest and most historic cemetery. Canberra sculptor Stephen Harrison comments, “Old graves, death-themed sculptures, all good really.”

“HOUSE on Fire” sees Canberra’s Griffyn Ensemble performing a program of brand new music with The Cashews. Come with us as we discover place, belonging, and identity – in conjunction with “Arthur Boyd: Agony and Ecstasy.” At the National Gallery of Australia, this Sat 13 September 2pm and Sun 14 September 2pm bookings to griffynensemble.com or 0466 480 104.

HURRY, hurry, Entries close COB tomorrow, Friday, September 12, for the Queanbeyan Art Society’s 7th Charity Art Show in City Walk, running for a week during Floriade from September 20-27, with profits going to Snowyhydro Southcare. This Art Show is open to all artists and entry forms are on the QAS site www.qarts.com.au or inquiries to Barry Cranston, 0439 392 709.

RUTH Waller is currently Head of Painting at ANU. In “All That Is Solid,” Early Italian and Northern Renaissance art have provided rich source material for several series of layered and reflective paintings. At Nancy Sever Gallery 4/6 Kennedy Street Kingston 11am to 6pm Wednesdays to Sundays until October 5.

IN “Articulate Objects,” curated by Karen O’Clery, ceramicist Janet DeBoos uses imagery and motifs drawn from Australia and China. Her works occupy a space between functional and non-functional, industry and the hand-made in a series of breathtaking beautiful objects. At ANU School of Art Gallery only until Saturday, September 13.

“BIOPHILIA” is an exhibition in which 6 Tasmanian artists – Sue Lovegrove, Sara Maher, Michael Schlitz, Belinda Winkler, Vicki West and Catherine Woo – will explore, in paintings, works on paper, ceramics, mixed media, the concept of the instinctive bond between human and living systems and the observation and enjoyment of and from that. Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison Street, Deakin September 11-30, Tue to Fri 10am – 5pm & Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm.

“ACROSS THE Border…Encore” is an exhibition of handcrafted jewellery to be opened this Saturday 13 September at 4pm by Avi Amesbury from Craft ACT. All are welcome. At Strathnairn, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt 10am – 4:30pm Thursday – Sunday, September 11-28. All works are available on a cash and carry basis.

FAMED Canberra artist Julie Ryder will open “Renewal and awakening”, three exhibitions to welcome spring as the season for renewal and awakening that run to October 25. Thursday September, 11, 6pm at Craft ACT: Craft & Design Centre, Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit. The exhibitions are “Awaken”, work by practitioners that represent the Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre’s Accredited Professional Membership and “Scantlings”, works by South Australian ceramicist Lesa Farrant and in “The Arid Zone,” Cathy Franzi uses the ceramic vessel and surface imagery to evoke a botanical perspective on natural places.

VISITORS can experience spring at Parliament House with events such as ‘Spring Tea’ – high tea in picturesque garden courtyards, on Sept 13 and Oct 4, jewellery and homewares from local ceramic artists using flowers from around the gardens on the Hill and garden tours. tour of the private courtyards and tea in the Queen’s Terrace Café, every Sunday from 14 September to 5 October, 10.30am & 1.30pm for two hours, Adult $92, Concession/Child $82. Courtyard tour, every Saturday from 13 September to 11 October; Weekdays: 12 September, 15 – 19 September, 26 September, 3 October, 6 – 10 October, 9.30am, 11am, 2pm & 3.30pm for 60 minutes. Adult $18, Concession/Child $13, Family $45 (two adults and two children).

YASSarts SPRING!’ kicks into gear this weekend with the art sale of the year, Poetry in Binalong all weekend, Yass Valley youth talent at Thyme to Taste on Saturday evening, Tessa Devine at the the Yazzbar with acoustic soul and art at Odd fellows Hall. YASSarts will also be staging ‘The Secret Canvas’ art auction, a fundraising effort in the Roundhouse at the Yass Showground tomorrow, Friday evening 12th September. All artworks will be $100 each, but the artist’s name is kept secret until after the purchase! yassarts.org will tell you more.

IN “The Italian Connection,” running at The Q Exhibition Space, until September 27, six ceramic artists and a painter, Linda Davey, Shirley Dunn Anne Langridge, Monika Leone Fran Romano, Anne Sawkins June Roblom, exhibit works influenced by their experiences of Italy. Open 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm Saturday, closed Sundays.

THE company No Strings Attached creates original theatre through the unique perspectives of its performers living with a disability. Written and directed by Alirio Zavarce in collaboration with the performers, “Sons & Mothers” is a humorous and poignant look into the lives of six men and their relationships with their mothers. At The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, this Saturday 13 September at 8pm, bookings to 6285 6290 to theq.net.au

IRISH country music star Derek Ryan will be at Irish Club to entertain country music fans and Irish expats on Saturday night, 13th September as he brings his distinctive brand of Irish Country to Australian shores. In 2013, Ryan released his single ‘Welcome Home (The Gathering)’, a song especially written for the Irish expats living in Australia. Tickets at the door.

ANDY Bull’s “Sea of Approval” tour bring shim to the Transit Bar tonight, Thursday September 11, in support of the release of his second LP, described as “an open and personal body of work.” Bull’s voice and acoustic piano are married with synthesizers, samples, glitches and vocal layering. Bookings to moshtix.com.au