The beckoning cat
You know the one – the toy Japanese cat that waves one paw at many a restaurant reception desk or Asian grocery counter. “The Maneki Neko or Beckoning Cat is a Japanese phenomenon that has spread its paws around the world,” says Canberra Contemporary Art Space in Manuka. “Michele England explores this object’s folklore tradition and its transition into a contemporary consumer product, in her first solo exhibition”. The show uses various materials to explore the beckoning cat in contemporary society. Not Waving, by Michele England, is showing at CCAS Manuka, 19 Furneaux Street, Manuka, until August 17.

Six at the Pod
Craft ACT is showing sculptures by six ANU School of Art Honours students in its Pod Gallery: “The artists have considered the craft involved in their practice to present works which span the diverse nature of contemporary sculpture, including objects, documented performance, ephemera and installation,” says Craft ACT. “The location and intimate scale of the pod exhibition space encourages audiences to engage with contemporary artwork, and for their makers in a professional and supportive environment.” SiXMiX is showing at Craft ACT pod gallery, Shop 11, 27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon, until August 17.

Shadows and Mirrors
The Nancy Sever Gallery in Kingston is showing works by Mexican artist Betsabee Romero, in a show drawing on elements of popular culture, especially the car. "The car as icon has a long tradition in Mexican culture, where the artist's roots lie, and she uses the car and its parts as a vehicle for exploring her cultural heritage," says the gallery. Her most recent works are large paper drawings, lit up and hung centimetres from the wall, Mexican celebration-style. Betsabee Romero: Of Shadows and Mirrors opens tomorrow, Sunday, August 10, at Nancy Sever Gallery, 4/6 Kennedy Street, Kingston, until August 31.

Body of work
It's such a hard thing to master, painting or drawing the human form, not that I would know. But Jill Mail does and has a series of life studies in watercolour showing at M16. "I attempt to capture the personality of the model and also to convey a sense of freedom that watercolour so often demands, a feeling of intimacy and keen observation," she says. A Body of Works, by Jill Mail, is showing at M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, until August 17.

Spare time, where art thou?
In a show at the ANU Art School this month, six studio residents at the Canberra Contemporary Art Space explore their own art practice in the context of thoughts that arise during the interim. “'Spare Time' is a manifestation of the themes which become pertinent to the individual when there is so little time to kill,” says the gallery. Spare Time - Aaron Garlick, Anja Loughhead, Jacob Potter, Chris Sutevski, Daniel Savage and Danny Wild, are showing at Photospace Gallery, ANU Art School, Childers St, Acton.

Open studio
Next weekend, hundreds of potters across the country will be opening their studios to the public, and one of them is Canberra-based ceramicist Sarit Cohen. This will give people the chance to see her new and old work, and gain an insight into her practice. The event is hosted by the Australian Ceramics Association: “Some of the world’s most significant moments have included mud, from the biblical creation of Adam to that famous, mind-altering festival at Woodstock,” says the ACA. “Although we find ourselves in an age of rapidly advancing technologies, this humble, sticky stuff continues to inspire and obsess thousands of makers throughout the world who still call themselves ‘potters’.” Unearth your local potter, via australianceramics.com. Sarit Cohen’s studio is on the corner of Catchpole and Fulton Streets, Macquarie, through the entrance at the blue fence.

Luhrmann’s lost work
On Friday, August 15, film historian and writer, Jeannette Delamoir, will speak about Baz Luhrmann’s 1986 ''lost'' musical, Crocodile Creek, at the National Film and Sound Archive. The Australian film director was just 23 when he visited Rockhampton, Queensland, to direct Crocodile Creek, “a community musical that unfolds amidst the 1867 anti-Chinese riots at the Crocodile Creek goldfield”. “Crocodile Creek faded from sight and this oblivion is undeserved,” says Delamoir. “Certainly the production made a long-lasting impact on those involved - and that includes Luhrmann, its professional director. The characteristics that underlie Luhrmann’s present success - the highly developed vision, the searing drive and the capacity for deep connections with cast and crew -were already evident.” Sound intriguing? Delamoir will be speaking about Crocodile Creek at the National Film and Sound Archive on Friday, August 15 at 5.30pm. Entry is free.

Workshops at Photoaccess
Have you ever wanted to learn all about Photoshop? Photoaccess is running a six-week workshop to introduce you to “the professionals’ choice of image editing software”, with certified expert Andrew Burke. The course spends five weeks on Photoshop and then one week on Lightroom to enable participants to efficiently catalogue and archive images. The course runs August 17-September 18, on Thursdays from 6pm to 9pm. Photoaccess is also running a two-day beginners black-and-white darkroom workshop, teaching you how to develop film, make proof sheets and print individual images. The workshop runs on August 16-17, from 10am to 4pm both days. To enrol, or for more information, visit photoaccess.org.au. ✓