Arts in the city

• ARTIST Michelle Day loves weird exhibition titles. The latest  is called “Monstrosity”, and she joins  Bev Bruen, Julie Monro-Allison in a pre-occupation with corporeal monstrosity: textile fetishisation, malignant growth, non-human/human abjection, and “the fluid intersections of desire and disgust, fear and comfort”. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, August 3-14.

• MORE monsters. Composer Michael Sollis and writer Cathy Petocz have come up with “Dinosaurs”, a “wild, energetic” musical promising lots of dinosaurs, earthquakes, and even a song about excrement. There are places for 30 children aged 7-11 to help tell this cretaceous tale as part of music for Everyone’s “Act Up Sing Out!” program. You’ll need to sign up now. Inquiries to  6230 7190 or info@mfe.org.au

• WHAT’S in a frame? Congratulations to Framing Matters in Manuka for receiving the top design award in the National Framing Competition. It’s hardly its first such award since the business began 10 years ago. I’m reminded that it has also held exhibitions on conservation framing techniques and framing design. Visit www.framingmatter.com.au

• CANBERRA Youth Theatre director Karla Conway has designed a series of workshops  to teach emerging and independent artists how to survive. First off the rank in August are “The Working Actor,” and “Show Me the Money: Grant Writing/Pitching & Selling Your Idea”. You’ll even get a certificate if you complete the courses. Inquiries to Conway at  6248 5057 or karla@cytc.net

• CANBERRAN performer Hanna Cormick will present a work combining mask and performance practice fusing Balinese and western traditions on August 6 at 7.30pm at Belconnen Arts Centre. She’s been in Ubud  studying with mask master Ida Bagus Anom under an Australia Council JUMP mentorship. Inquiries to info@belconnenartscentre.com.au or  6173 3300.

• I RECENTLY dropped in one on one of the Shed Sessions at the Artists Shed in Queanbeyan. Held on the first and third Sundays of the month from 2-5pm (the next one is on July 31), these are mostly blues and roots music sessions, with entry by paper note donation, local wines and best of all, a cozy spot around the fireside. Just turn up to 14 Foster Street Queanbeyan.