What's on in Canberra's art scene from June 17

Emerging artist Maria Chatzinikolaki creates finely detailed works with patterns informed by both nature and art history. Her new exhibition at Beaver Galleries explores the idea of 'humans as living vessels that choose what they want to carry throughout their lives'. With a rich Greek heritage and her Australian upbringing, Maria creates works that cross cultural boundaries using a very personal visual language." And David Frazer has used his woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs and etchings to explore "the themes of truth, despair and often the emotional and fragile state of the human condition. Although David's works are intrinsically Australian, his story is universal, drawing tensions between survival and hope, vitality and emptiness in images that are both poignant and mildly unsettling, yet entirely captivating". Essence of…, by Maria Chatzinikolaki, and Drift, by David Frazer, are showing until July 3 at Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison Street, Deakin.

Peoples and Brand at Bilk

No, that's really their names! Nellie Peoples and Zoe Brand are recent ANU Art School grads and emerging art jewellers, and have put together their first show together. Peoples examines the connections between objects and people – "the idea that every dent and scratch is evidence of each action taken by the beholder. Together, the culmination of these marks create a narrative". And Brand has constructed "a narrative around how we consume and understand signs. Using familiar language and forms often found in retail environments, she questions the conventions of commerce and of the ubiquitous and ambiguous language that surrounds it". Peoples + Brand opens June 24 at Bilk Gallery, Palmerston Lane, Manuka, and runs until July 29.

Seeing in Darjeeling

Even as an artist, even with the best intentions, even in Darjeeling, it's hard to see things properly. So what better way to rectify this than to invite a prominent landscape artist with you on your journey to show you the way to your art? Turns out four friends – Peter Dunn, Rob Purdon, Diana McPhetres and Rodney Moss – did just this. They invited the landscape painter Robert Malherbe to travel with them to Darjeeling with one simple brief – "show us how to see things differently". "The challenge for the group was to paint the space and light of this special mountain town en plein air," says the press release. The paintings are all in acrylic and show a range of works demonstrating the vigour and passion of the enthusiastic beginner and the accomplished refinement of the mature artist. The paintings capture the unique qualities of Darjeeling – the enormous scale of the place, the contrast in light, the bold colours and the gritty urban form of the town." I feel like I'm there already! Works on canvas En Plein Air opens June 24 at Cox Gallery, 1/19 Eastlake Parade, Kingston, and runs until July 17.

Artist talk at Form

There's something in the air when it comes to plein air, or are we just imagining it? Vicki Hersey and Kerry Johns have a joint show of multiple – as in 150- small plein-air paintings and works on paper, and will be giving a free floor talk about their works on Saturday June 18, 2.00pm at Form Studio and Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan.

Quick draw!

Don't forget about CCAS's excellent fundraising event coming up next month. Basically, a $250 ticket will guarantee you will leave one of the 50 artworks that have been donated by some of Canberra and Australia's hottest artists, who have donated works to help CCAS find its feet after missing out on Australia Council funding. The best part is that you won't know what the work is until you win it. And there are still tickets left! Quick Draw is happening July 9 at Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon. Tickets at Eventbrite.com.au. For more information, visit ccas.com.au.

Eclectic at Belco

Three new shows open this week at Belconnen Arts Centre. In Habitual Creatures, Tom Buckland, Rebecca Selleck and Sian Watson have a diverse collection of sculpture, photography and interactive works that explore concepts of the animal. "Through a unifying interest, but separate lines of inquiry, these artists investigate the varied ways we perceive and interact with other creatures, and ultimately what this reveals about ourselves." In Pigs and Dogs, Shan Crosbie investigates just why it is that dogs are part of the family while pigs are in the frying pan, when both are "omnivorous, highly social, and intelligent - both capable of experiencing joy, fear, pleasure, and pain". And in Dis-Place, Daniel Savage presents a series of photographs "using taxidermy native animals as a metaphor for the position of people with a disability in contemporary Australian society. While the claim is often made that we have an inclusive society, the public space people with disabilities are allowed to inhabit is often a controlled, segregated, restrictive, recreation of a non-disabled experience". All three exhibitions open June 24 at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, and run until July 17.

Glass glass glass

There's a lot happening at the Canberra Glassworks this weekend, not least the brilliant Winter Glass Market, a free community celebration of glass and glass-making happening all day on Saturday June 18, with markets, workshops, exhibitions, an auction, food, drink, music and many other things to warm you up on what could well be a crappy weather weekend. And then, there's the Hindmarsh Prize, an inaugural exhibition and prize that "aims to recognise and promote the appreciation of the world-class artists working in glass who live and practice in the ACT and region. The shortlisted artists are all exceptional and well-known, and they'll all be on display at the Fitters Workshop from June 17-19, and later in July at the Glassworks.