What's on in the Canberra arts scene, June 3, 2017

I think the key is people need to tell you about things. I'll admit I'm not out scouring galleries of a weekend - see previous mention of rugby - so it's up to you, artists, art patrons, people who would much prefer the quiet space of a gallery on a Saturday afternoon than the noise of a sideline, to tell me all about stuff.

So thank you to ANU librarian Roxanne Missingham who alerted me to a fascinating exhibition just opening at the Menzies Library.

First impressions: Elizabeth Durack, an artist in Papua and New Guinea, 1968, is a collection of works by eminent Australian artist Elizabeth Durack (later Durack Clancy), who was invited by the Australian Government to travel to Papua New Guinea to record images of women as the nation progressed towards independence. She created insightful drawings and photographs together with observations of women, children and the environment within which these major changes were occurring.

The collection of 410 works, 233 of which have never been available to researchers before, has been acquired from Michael Clancy and Perpetua Durack Clancy, trustees of the estate of Elizabeth Durack. All images are available online, together with seven detailed commentaries on the collection and its value to researchers and historians.

It's an interesting study of the PNG people, as well as gender politics of the time, Durack's work provided the Australian Government with some understanding of the status and role of women in the "colony".

The exhibition runs for three months and is also available to view online.

Farewell Sir Roger Moore, you weren't my favourite Bond - no one can top Sean Connery - but your charm and talent will be sorely missed. To celebrate his life there'll be a special screening of two of his best films at Hoyts this week. Watch The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only on the big screen in stunning digital projection, with 50 percent of all proceeds benefitting UNICEF. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Sir Roger had been a dedicated and passionate supporter of UNICEF since 1991. Nothing better than old films on the big screen, and for a good cause too. Order a martini at the bar. At both Belconnen and Woden. Tickets here.

Two new exhibitions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre capture the spirit of birds, the evocative nature of flight, and how we as humans imagine and interact with avian species and their movements.

Bird Life is a curated group exhibition exploring the human connection to birds, and how they capture our imagination. It features works by Byrd, Rachel Bolton, Dianna Budd, Carol Cooke, Linda Davy, Steven Holland, Zinia King and Michael Norris.

Exhibition Curator Narelle Phillips says the exhibition explores the strong and recurring human connection to birds, and aims to highlight how they capture our imagination.

An Episode features new drawing works about flying by Bermagui artist Matt Chun. Chun's collection of work in coloured pencil, gouache and mixed media, portrays both human and bird subjects and the act of flight depicted through landscape. Chun works as an artist and writer between Bermagui, Sydney and Taipei. The exhibitions continue until Saturday July 1, 2017.

What are your concerns? Connection, time, sexual, inspiration, fuse, sprawl, control and analogous? These were the "shared concerns" of eight jewellers from Australia, the United States and Denmark, who initially came together to work in the famed Penland craft studios in the mountains of North Carolina.

As a group they shared the intimate 'concerns' of their practice, and in turn each has created a small suite of works that interprets the 'concern' of another group member. It is interesting to see how each artist dealt with a new word that was introduced into their practice. For some it was a natural fit, for others initial frustrations were shared with outcomes unexpected.

Shared Concerns, an extended season, until June 10, at Bilk Gallery for contemporary metal and glass, Palmerston Lane Manuka