Local glass artist Debra Jurss has a new body of work on show in an exhibition opening at Form Gallery this week: "The exhibition has a strong feeling of movement and flow, frozen at a point in time, reflecting Debra's experience with the diagnosis and death of her husband from motor neurone disease," says the gallery. But there's more to the work than responding to death: "The emotions expressed by the work range from delighted joyous wonder at the contrasts and colours of the Antarctic coast, through to contemplative pleasure at our Australia river environments." Flow, Interrupted, by Debra Jurss, opens July 19 at Form Studio and Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan, and runs until August 7.

Not to get all heavy on you, but there's another show about the death of a loved one just opened at Nishi Gallery, this one "a celebration of a mother's life through moments of stillness. A very personal exhibition from Canberra photographer Maryanne Voyazis, that speaks to moments in the human experience seldom shared with strangers." Beauty in this, by Maryanne Voyazis, is showing at Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane, New Acton, until July 24.

Opening at the new and very much improved Drill Hall Gallery is an exhibition of works from the new generation of painters from Papunya, the legendary hub of Indigenous creativity which began in 1971, "when a small group of senior men began producing paintings based on the ritual designs drawn in sand and of their body painting. Celebrating the renaissance that has occurred since the establishment of the Papunya Tjupi Arts Centre in 2007, the exhibition places present-day paintings in an historical context that stretches back to Albert Namatjira, who was the first artist of renown associated with Papunya." Streets of Papunya is showing at Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street (off Barry Drive), ANU, until August 14.

As part of NAIDOC Week, Us Mob - a group of First Nations People who love to write, made up of emerging and established writers, poets, and playwrights, will be presenting readings from their published anthology By Close of Business. The group have performed at local national and international events and contributed to various publications, and their writings include poetry, plays, songs, films scripts, TV dramas, children's storybooks, novels, short stories, biographies. Us Mob will be reading Saturday July 16, 2.30pm Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway. The event is free.

A new show just opened at CCAS at Gorman is an examination of climate change by eight artists: "2° investigates climate change, its effect on the present, and the struggle to avoid environmental disaster by limiting rising global temperature to two degrees," says the gallery. "Other than life and death, climate change will be one of the only collective experiences in our lifetime to touch every human on the planet. Engaging audiences through humour, seduction and intrigue, 2° effectively raises awareness and addresses the concerns of climate change." 2°, by Daniel Bonson, GW Bot, David Buckland, Søren Dahlgaard, Jacky Green, Annika Harding, Timothy James Johnson and Andrew Styan, is showing at Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, until August 20.

There are few things more satisfying for the art lover than watching an artist work at their craft. And being able to watch artists at work is one of the best things about Canberra Glassworks. This week, you can check out one of the Glasswork's current artists-in-residence, Mitsui Takeyoshi, who is here from Toyama Glass Studio in Japan as part of the Asialink Reciprocal Residency. He'll be in the Engine Room. Watch and marvel! For more information, visit canberraglassworks.com.

And, nothing better than listening to an expert talking about what they know. All the way from Manchester comes British artist and author Michael Howard, to talk about the sculpture of Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin: "Auguste Rodin and Edgar Degas, two of the greatest, most skilled and most admired artists of modern times, each rooted in traditional values and yet both unremittingly radical in their work… At the centre of their work is the human figure – in all its splendour, vulnerability and beauty." Michael Howard will be presenting the next lecture of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Molonglo Plains, July 21, 2pm at the Comfort Inn Airport International, 57 Yass Road, Queanbeyan. Members free, visitors $25. For membership inquiries & visitor bookings contact Lucy Costas on 0437 538 529 or adfasmembersmolonglo@gmail.com.

Much-admired and many awarding-winning pianist and composer Matthew Sheens is touching down in Canberra next weekend as part of the release tour of his latest album Cloud Appreciation Day: "The new album, recorded with two different bands in Sydney and New York City respectively, features 11 new compositions that are the result of 11 different events in Matthew Sheens' own life," runs the guff. "Drawing from a range of influences including West African music and 20th Century poetry Cloud Appreciation Day features some of Australia and the United States' greatest contemporary jazz musicians." Matthew Sheens will be launching his new album Sunday July 24, 2.00pm at Ainslie Arts Centre, Elouera St, Braddon. Tickets $25/$20. Bookings and information: agac.com.au.