BELCONNEN Arts Centre has decided to celebrate its second anniversary of operations with, well, art – and it’s open to the public from tonight.

A triple-barrelled show called “Creative Alchemy” is made up of responses by 40 Canberra region artists to the theme of “alchemic forces at work in materials, the environment and everyday lives around us.”

Visitors will encounter works in many different media from the following:  Ali Aedy, Elise Baniassad, Elena Bozhko, Chris Bridgland, Melanie Calvert, Karen Clarke, Jill Clingan, Eva Cotterell, Lorna Crane, Lyndy Delian, Robyn Diener, Linzie Ellis, Dianne Firth, Kathleen Fisher, Jen Fullerton, Garaya, Eryka Garbutt, Jenny Geldart, Euan Graham, Stephen Harrison, Paul Haslam and Richard Lamond, Marilyn Hutchinson, Bob Jankowski, Fatima Killeen, Hayley Lander, Annette Leahy, Kristen Leydon, Dianne Liebke, Jenny Manning, Maryann Mussared, Siva Nathan, Greg Parish, Jemima Parker, Rob Riley, Brenda Runnegar, Luna Ryan, Tracey Sarsfield, Chad Swanson, Beverly Thomas, Robert Topic, Sarah Cate Walker, Kate Ward and Ying Zhang.

You can meet these artists on Sunday, October 9 at 3pm.

The chief highlight of the show is in the foyer space, where textile artist Julie Ryder combines printmaking with the results of chemical reaction and transformation in “Creative Alchemy II”. Ryder is well known for her science-based art.

“In 1994, I developed a hybrid practice of art and science by using fruit fermentation to colour and pattern my cloth. The bacteria and moulds produced by the rotting fruit ferment over several months, staining the cloth with natural dyes and leaving ghostly patterns of the fruit behind. The silks are then further embellished by hand,” Ryder said.

On October 9 at 2pm, Ryder will present a free talk and discussion and on October 12, from 10am-12pm, Ryder will hold a school holiday workshop for children for ages 5-12. Inquiries to 6173 3300.

One of the more individualistic artists exhibiting in “Creative Alchemy” is Stephen Harrison, best-known as the chief cartoonist for Canberra’s “Muse” arts magazine. During the late 1980s, Harrison turned from the black and white medium in which he was trained to full colour oil painting, later re-training at his alma mater, the School of Art, in sculpture. In this show Harrison reveals his perspective on humankind’s relationship to earth.

Meanwhile, in the arts lounge until October 9, Valeska Tilly contemplates Lake Ginninderra, whose name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning “throwing out little rays of light – sparkling”. Using tools such as reed pens and natural pigments, Tilly looks at the  special environment in which the arts centre is set. You can meet the artist on  Sunday, October 2 at 2pm.

“Creative Alchemy” is at Belconnen Arts Centre,  118 Emu Bank, Until  October 9, 10am- 5pm Tuesday – Sunday.