CANBERRA Tree Week is upon us and to celebrate, glass artists Harriet Schwarzrock, Sui Jackson and Emilie Patteson will talk about the influence of trees on their work.

THEY’LL also provide a demonstration in the Hotshop. Some of their works will be on display and for sale in the foyer and light refreshments will be provided. “Crystal Clear: Talking Trees,” at Canberra Glassworks from 5.00 – 6.30pm today, Thursday July 23, FREE event.

MEANTIME Canberra Glassworks is seeking new glass writers to creatively and critically respond to its “New Glass 2015: Archaeology, Excavation and the Arcane” exhibition. If you are a writer residing in the ACT and interested in entering this new competition, you’ll have the chance to win a $500 cash prize. Entries should be 1000 words or less and take into consideration the exhibition curated by Magda Keaney running at Canberra Glassworks until August 30. Prize: $500 cash. Entries due: 5pm on August 20, details at canberraglassworks.com

TERENCE  Maloon’s third lecture on Cubism is “Georges Braque – the poetics of introversion,” is on Sunday,  July  26 at 3pm at ANU’s Manning Clark Centre, (2 minutes from the Drill Hall Gallery – map available at gallery). Tickets at the door $13 / $10 Friend or Student Conc. All proceeds go to the Drill Hall Gallery Building Fund.

HONEST Puck Theatre Is the brainchild of Elizabeth and James Scott at Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art. They’re now staging “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged” until Sunday August 2 at the CADA Theatre, 1/9 Lithgow St, and Fyshwick. It’s a mad romp tackles all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in just 97 minutes – with quick costume changes, juggling props, swapping characters… and some most unusual accents. Bookings to stagecenta.com

“DYLAN Thomas: Return Journey” is a simply fabulous show. Originally directed by Sir Anthony Hopkins, it’s written and performed by Welsh actor Bob Kingdom and you won’t see acting like this again for a long time as he tells yarns and recites poetry by the famous Welsh bard. At The Street Theatre until Saturday July 25. Bookings to thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223. As You Like It Cafe and Bar at the Street will be offering pre-theatre dining between 5:30pm and 7pm this week before all performances of the show.

CANBERRA Youth Orchestra are in Llewellyn Hall this Saturday July 25 at 7:30pm under the baton of Shilong Ye presenting “The Occidental Program,” Sinfonietta, Op.188 by Raff, Suite No.2, Op.4 by Bartok, Concerto for Marimba & Strings by Sejourne (featuring soloist Adam Cooper-Stanbury) and Estampas Mexicanas by Elizondo. Bookings to ticketek.com.au

BILK Gallery’s upcoming exhibition ‘For Love’ features pieces from a personal space. The new works are by artists Tracy Pateman, Cinnamon Lee, Larah Nott, Sandie Lee, Eugenie Keefer-Bell, Sarah Murphy, Maureen Faye-Chauhan, Kath Inglis, Nolia Shakti, Nadja Maher, Spike Deane, Emilie Patteson, Mio Kuhnen, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen and Marian Hosking with Louiseann and Kristian King. Opening tomorrow, Friday, July 24 at 6pm, runs to August 23 in  Bilk Gallery for contemporary metal and glass, Palmerston Lane Manuka

QUEANBEYAN City Council extends an invitation to all artists and craftspeople who reside in the Queanbeyan, Palerang, Cooma Monaro or Yass Valley Local Government Areas to enter the Queanbeyan City Council Regional Art Awards. Artwork and entry forms are due next Tuesday July 28. Mayor Tim Overall will announce the winners on Tuesday August 4. For entry details visit qcc.nsw.gov.au

CRAFTACT: Craft and Design Centre Gallery in the North Building tonight, Thursday July 23 at 6pm, will open “Embracing Innovation.” It’s the fifth instalment of the annual exhibition series and focuses on showcasing trans-disciplinary research, innovation and digital technologies. Also opening is “Daylights” by Canberra artist, Michelle Day, who straddles the boundaries between the functionality and sculptural forms of lighting through experiments with diverse light diffusing materials such as paper, fabrics, fiberglass, glass and silicone. Showing in the Craft ACT Crucible Showcase, is Craft ACT member Taë Schmeisser’s collection of wearables. Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm + Saturday 12pm-4pm.

AUSTRIAN Culture is to the fore in Garema Place this Sunday July 26 from 9.30am to 4pm with Austrian Cultural Sunday, featuring the Australian National Eisstock Championship and an ice show at 12.30pm, as well as “culinary delicacies” (and we hope vocal ones too) from The Austrian Choir.

CORO chamber ensemble is performing ‘Messiah’ in the 1742 Dublin version of Handel’s masterpiece, normally heard at Christmas. At St Paul’s,  Manuka, 4pm this Sunday July 26 conducted by Joseph Nolan  from St George’s Cathedral, Perth, with Paul McMahon as tenor soloist. Tickets at the door or bookings to  corocanberra.com .

Filipino-American piano virtuoso Jovanni-Rey de Pedro is coming to Tuggeranong Twilight Series at Tuggeranong Arts Centre on Sunday July 26, 5-7pm. Bookings to 6293 1443.

“STRIPEY the Eggscellent Adventures of an Emu Chick” opens at the Canberra Theatre tonight, Thursday, July 23 and runs until Saturday. Hit numbers like “Ants are in my Pants” are just part of the Aussie fun. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

IN “Paint like Picasso” at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, tutor Delene White will explore different art styles for beginners. The class will run for eight sessions and cover eight different styles. Sessions are 10 am-12pm Saturdays for 8 week starting on August 1. Inquiries about this and a drawing class with Canberra artist Genevieve Swifte also beginning on August 1, phone 6293 1443.

“THE Young Ones” at All Saints Anglican Church, Ainslie this Sunday July 26 at 2.30pm is a concert of music for piano, cello, organ, voice and children’s choir, featuring musicians under 30. It’s considered a MUST for all young people with an interest in music and it will be followed by refreshments. Tickets at the door: $15 adults and $5 children.

AN exhibition celebrating the Murumbung Rangers’ work on Country is on display at both Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park, featuring a series of photographs that celebrate the work of the ACT Parks and Conservation Murumbung Rangers. “’Working on Country: Murumbung Yurung Murra Rangers – Good Strong Pathways’, highlights our passion and respect for the work that we do – caring for Ngunnawal Country,” ACT Parks Ngunnawal ranger and Senior Cultural Advisor, Adrian Brown said. Runs until Friday, September 11.

NAREK Galleries at Tanja is in winter recess, but not to worry, Narek director Karen O’Clery is exhibiting “In the Falling Light, recent porcelain by Kirsten Coelho”, at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, until August 9.

“REALITY in flames” is the dramatic title of an exhibition about modern Australian art and the Second World War opens at the Australian War Memorial. It showcases works by leading official war artists such as Russell Drysdale, Nora Heysen and Albert Tucker and is the first exhibition to be dedicated exclusively to exploring Australian modernist artists’ reactions to the Second World War. The exhibition showcases 90 works in a variety of disciplines developed through the official war art scheme and pieces by artists who struggled to balance the creation of their art with their experience of war-related labour or military service.

“MOSTLY Landscapes,” opening (all welcome) tomorrow, July 24 at 6pm in The Framing Store 42 Mort St Braddon, is an exhibition by photographer Jeremy Wood. “I like surprising people with exotic looking images that are from ordinary seeming local places,” Wood tells us.

“WE May Never Meet Again: The Music of Amy Winehouse” is a project by ex-Canberra band Movement 9. After a sad “ANU Farewell” gig in 2012 Joe McEvilly re-formed the band in Melbourne and released our album WINGS, which was well received. They’re back in town this month to launch an EP reimagining several of Amy Winehouse’s songs and will be playing in Canberra at the Street Theatre tomorrow, Friday, July 24.

KANGARA Waters Community Centre hosts an afternoon of opera this Saturday July 25, as Canberra Opera sopranos Stephanie McAlister and Karyn Tisdell with pianist Kathleen Loh present works by Puccini, Mozart, Bellini, Bizet and Delibes. At Kangara Waters Retirement Village, 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 2.15-3pm. Tickets $25 include afternoon tea. Bookings to trybooking.com/IGQG, or tickets at the door. 2.15-3.00PM Ph.: 6251 5212 Geoff

MONARO Folk Society presents a full evening’s bush dancing to the music of Sydney band Bon Accord this Saturday July, 25 from 8 – 11.30pm, with calling by Don Richmond. All welcome – come with or without a partner, with or without experience, or bring a group of friends. This month’s theme is Masquerade – this is your opportunity to indulge in some fantasy in creating a mask to wear. Tickets at the door and under 18s Free.

QUEANBEYAN Art Society’s Members’ July exhibition will hang in the QAS gallery under the Queanbeyan Bridge on Trinculo Place until this Saturday July 25, on which date entries for the August Queanbeyan City Council Competition/Exhibition also close. Entries for the 8th QAS Charity Art Show supporting Soldier On close Friday September 12. All details at qarts.com.au.

DIRTY rock meets big metal wah-wah in Tragic Earth, now as part of their Stumbelina tour at 8pm this Saturday, July 25 at The Basement, 2 Cohen St, Belconnen, tickets at the door. Supports are Frankenstein’s Baby, Dog’s Breakfast, and Upside Down Miss Jane.