A new trio of shows are opening this week over at M16 Artspace in Griffith. First up, Sydney painter Martin Claydon has What Becomes of Little Boys, an exhibition that "explores social structures and belief systems, violence and power. Influenced by the politically charged, social realism of the Chicago Imagists of the late 1960s, Claydon sources imagery for his paintings from the internet. Sourcing online images from "the seemingly infinite vortex of images on the internet" he manipulates and projects enlargements of these onto the painting surface." That can't end well…In Obliterate, Averil Harris has created a video installation in response to the distress many feel at seeing so many printed books disappear from library shelves, in favour of the digital versions. "Harris found the book featured in the video after a cull by an academic library. Through repetitive mark-making Harris obliterates the entire text. Her performance serves as a means of exploring her own reaction and the reaction of others to the idea of de-materialisation of books." Heartbreaking! And in Ties, Francis Spurgen explores the visual aspect of knots, inspired partly by the many cold mornings spent as a child watching her father tying fishing lures. "Tied is a series of knotted objects that combine the thick twists of rope with the intricate loops of tied fly lures. Each knot highlights the motions used to create it. The colours of a delicately tied fly spring to life against the muted cotton rope." All three shows open August 18 at M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, and run until September 4.

If you haven't managed to see the small but perfectly formed exhibition of portraits by Arthur Boyd at the National Portrait Gallery, this weekend is your last chance. Boyd was just 25 when he created these nine portraits, all of which reflect his own psychological feelings – in the subjects' eyes and facial expressions. The loveliest part of the show is that each image is accompanied by an imagined quote on the part of the sitter, as a way of exploring the intense and complex emotion depicted on each face. Mysterious Eyes: Arthur Boyd portraits from 1945 is showing at the National Portrait Gallery until Sunday, August 14.

There's a beautiful and surprisingly uplifting show just opened at Form in Queanbeyan. Artist Sharon Field has explored plants (and some animals) at the very end of their lives, but "not in a morbid way". "Some things become clear much later ... explores the beautiful patterns and delicate tracery of leaves, grasses and bones as they continue on their journey," Field says. "I don't see these objects as dead - they may not be obviously animate any more, but they still contribute to the environment as they continue their change into new and increasingly delicate forms. They now have a lyricism that was not necessarily obvious in life." Some things become clear much later…, by Sharon Field, is showing at Form Studio and Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan, until August 28.

A new period instrument ensemble from Sydney, the Muffat Collective, are performing what could well be a history enthusiast's dream show this week at the Wesley Music Centre. "From the vibrant court of King Charles ll to the intimate theatres of London, they take you on a journey to 17th Century Restoration England with consorts, songs and suites by Purcell, Locke & Dowland. In the hands of four brilliant young musicians, Sydney's newest period instrument ensemble bring you the flair of the Baroque and guarantee to refresh the spirit, entertain-and perhaps even amuse." The Muffat Collective will be performing Beauty Thou Scene of Love, Thursday, August 18 at 7.30pm at the Wesley Music Centre, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest. Tickets at the door: $35/$30/$15. More information: 0498 440 396.

Sydney artist Lynn Smith seeks to ask questions through his work, rather than change the world directly. His new show at PhotoAccess is a series of large-scale "street noir" photographs, capturing the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, London, Paris and Berlin, all devoid of people. 'My images are not overt: they're political more by refraction, than reflection," says Smith. "I don't make propaganda. I design anxiety into my images in order to provoke a response. But I'm not a cynic. Or a fatalist. I'm convinced it's within our capacities, as conscious global citizens, to build safer, more equal, more humane communities. Which is why there's always a sliver of lightness in my work. I feel for my bitter sweet world." A Beautiful Anxiety, by Lynn Smith, is showing at PhotoAccess, Manuka Arts Centre, Cnr Manuka Circle and New South Wales Crescent, Griffith ACT (next to the Manuka Pool), until September 4. Lynn Smith will be running an intermediate night photography workshop, capturing "the atmosphere, movement and enigmatic qualities of Canberra's CBD after dark", over three nights, from August 31 to September 2, from 6.00-9.00pm. Cost is $280 and bookings are essential. Visit photoacces.org.au for more information.