Capital Life: What's on in Canberra's arts scene from March 25

There's a thought-provoking and compelling new show opening this week at China in the World, by Wei Leng Tay, and artists whose work is concerned with the notion of displacement and self-identity: "Young Mainland Chinese are moving to Hong Kong from all over China, leaving their homes because of family interests, or in search of better education and career prospects. Such migrants find themselves in majority Chinese yet increasingly tense environments, often confronting entrenched ideas regarding 'Mainlanders'. Using audio interview and photography, The Other Shore asks how one's sense of self is entwined with national identity and how a host environment affects our outlook and everyday lives." The Other Shore opens at China in the World Building, Fellows Lane, ANU on March 30 and runs until July 15.

Fugitive Faith at the Fitters

Ecuador-born artist Mariana del Castillo, who has lived in Australia for 40 years, has a short and very awesome show of installations opening at the Fitters Workshop for four days only. Blink and you'll miss it, but please don't! "Within this exhibition she explores her past, the sense of anonymity in a crowd and our collective excesses as consumers. She emphasises the commonness of human fate, the painful burden of loss, and how incomplete we feel when we stand in judgment of each other." Fugitive Faith, by Mariana del Castillo, opens at the Canberra Fitters Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston, on March 31 and runs until April 3.

Friends and Acquaintances at Form

Canberra artist Steve Roper has a new show opening this week at Form in Queanbeyan. He's been working and teaching in Canberra since 1978, and has had many solo shows. Lately, his focus has been on the subconscious: "My main interest now is in working in a way which explores the unconscious imagination," he says. "This has resulted in images populated by an cast of characters from my past and present (or who knows where?) - demons, dogs, musicians, children and some other people who are unknown to me, although maybe you know them well. Some works appear to be (from some reactions) laugh-out-loud funny while others will be ridiculous or unsettling. Relationships, emotions, fears and anxieties feature prominently." Friends and Acquaintances, by Steve Roper, opens March 28 at Form Studio and Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan, and runs until April 10.

Resident of Antarctica

Canberra not quiet enough for you? Not even this Easter weekend? Have you ever wanted to just get away? Then this artist-in-residence's program could be the one for you. "One of the world's most remote artists-in-residence programs is seeking expressions of interest from artists, writers and others who can communicate the significance of Australia's engagement with the icy continent through their work. The Australian Antarctic Division's 2016 Antarctic Arts Fellowship enables those with a non-science focus to experience Antarctica first-hand, and share the experience with the broader Australian community, increasing awareness of Antarctica and the Australian Antarctic program. The Fellowship takes the form of either a ship voyage or flight to Antarctica and associated logistical support including food, accommodation and Antarctic clothing." Expressions of interest can be submitted online and close on April 7, 2016. Visit Antarctica.gov.au for more information.

Joyful noise at the High Court

There's a particularly joyful concert happening next weekend at the High Court, that soaring edifice of civilisation: "The Canberra-based community choir the Gospel Folk, joins local jazz choir Rhythm Syndicate, to demonstrate the diversity of the gospel music tradition. Enjoy four-part arrangements of African songs, traditional spirituals, songs of slavery and liberation, call and response songs, classic hymns and contemporary American gospel compositions. In the stunning setting of the High Court re-discover why gospel is one of the most irresistible, harmonious and inclusive of choral genres." Make a Joyful Noise, by the Gospel Folk Choir, is on Sunday, April 3, 1.30pm at the High Court in Parkes. The concert is free but bookings are essential. Visit hcourt.gov.au for more information.

Sunlight and shadows at Strathnairn

A couple of nice shows opened last week at Strathnairn arts on our suburban bush fringe. Jill Clingan has rediscovered colour in new books and artworks on paper: "After many years of working in monochrome, I finally rediscovered the delights of working in colour, always challenged by its innuendoes in varying lights. I love to share with people the beauties I see around me – to convey with my art a sense of joy and hope in life." And Trenna Langdon loves the "honesty" of clay as a material: "It has physical limits and I want to explore and push those limits. I am interested in the science of making – the chemistry of the glaze, the composition of the clay body and the effect of heat that transforms the finished work into a permanent object. I am attracted to the aesthetic – the transformation of the material and the surprises left on the surface – the forms and the colours." Sunlight and Shadows, by Jill Clingan, and ceramics by Trenna Langdon, are showing until April 17 at Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt.

Spanish rock royalty

Rosendo is famous enough to be known only by his first name … in Spain. But he's the real deal and he's performing on Saturday, April 2, at the ANU Bar, with Canberra favourites Los Chavos supporting. "Rosendo is a Spanish legendary rock singer and songwriter and the most prominent exponent of the so-called urban rock in Spain," runs the guff. The concert, at 7pm at the ANU Bar, is free, and all students and staff from the Spanish, Latin American and Music Schools are invited to participate.

The other Rosendo

But, to put you in the picture even more, Rosendo's visit marks the bicentenary of his namesake, Rosendo Salvado, a XIX century Spanish missionary and musician. On Friday, April 1, the ANU will host a lecture-recital "featuring two remarkable and illustrious personages in music history: Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein and Spanish Benedictine monk and composer Rosendo Salvado. Two ambassadors of the Spanish culture: Rubinstein, an admirer of Spain, its culture and its music as well as a unique interpreter of its composers; Salvado, a cultivated individual and pianist, founder of an abbey in New Norcia and an educator of people through music". The Andrea Gonzalez Perez lecture recital is on April 1, 6-7pm at the School of Music, ANU Acton. Tickets $6, which includes a glass of champagne. Visit music.anu.edu.au/events for more information.