Arts in the city

• “THE Dark Side of the Keys” is a great title for the recital of pianist Andrew Rumsey at the Wesley Music Centre’s Lunchtime Live series from 12.40pm on August 17. Last year he won the Margaret Smiles Accompaniment Competition and performed at the Australian Pavilion at the World Trade Expo in Shanghai. When he plays  Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 Op.37 in C minor, 1st movement, James Huntingford will play the orchestral accompaniment on a second piano. Cost is $2 or paper-note entry.

• THE Fourth People’s Choice Exhibition “Squares” is now at Strathnairn Homestead Gallery, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt, Friday to Sunday, 10am-4.30pm. Strathnairn asks its members: “What can you create on a 12×12-inch [30cmx30cm] canvas?” More fun – the prize-giving will be done at 2.30pm on August 21 by ABC weatherman Mark Carmody.

• THE 2011 Canberra Contemporary Art Space “Members’ Show” opens on August 18. On the same lines as Strathnairn, there’s a size limit of 42cmx42cmx42cm and, believe it or not, you can buy the works for $100.

• SALUT! Baroque’s “Northern Discoveries” can be heard on August 19 at 7.30pm in Albert Hall. What a sense of history Salut! has. “Desperate to increase the glory and political power of her husband and herself… the new Swedish Queen, Louisa Ulrika, endeavoured to mimic the French court of Versailles.” That’s a great excuse to play music by Roman, Brant, Schickhardt, Agrell, Buxtehude and Baltazar. Tickets at the door.

• RETIRED chief and arts minister Jon Stanhope has been honoured widely of late, not least by Belconnen Arts Centre, whose chairperson, Evol McLeod, has announced him as the centre’s  first patron, praising his “passion and  advocacy for the arts”.

• “WHEN people say it’s a crazy world, they’re not kidding,” says Bilk Gallery , Palmerston Lane, Manuka, in describing Dore Stockhausen’s exhibition “Fractured View”, which runs until August 19. Each piece, they say, is a miniature world that translates her concept into metal, enamel and gemstones.

• OPERA Australia’s splashy production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”, directed by Stuart Maunder and featuring former Canberran Warwick Fyfe as Pooh Bah will be screened at Greater Union, Manuka, as part of CinemaLive on August 13. Bookings to www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinema/Manuka