The Mallee Artists Swan Hill (MASH) will launch their new exhibition at The Balranald Gallery on Friday, February 7 with an afternoon tea at 2pm, giving locals an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists.

Featuring more than 48 works of art created by the all the members of the small, but active Swan Hill based artist group the exhibition will be on show for six weeks.

Incoming president of MASH, Gail Autry, said that the group has been trying to get an exhibition at Balranald for a while and were pleased when the opportunity presented itself and the members were

very excited at being able to bring their works to Balranald.

“We have exhibited at The Swan Hill Gallery, Cohuna and the Grain Shed in Swan Hill in the past,” Ms Autry said.

The group has been going for more than 23 years and is comprised of like minded people getting together to enhance their knowledge of art, teach each other new things and a social outlet.

“Once a month we try to have workshops with someone from within the group showing the other members something that is of interest to them to expand,” Ms Autry added

“It is a very diverse and social group, when we meet each week, we have our cuppa and our cake.

“Some days you might just chat a lot or you might just do something very small but other times you get together and you might do a whole heap of different things.

“We also have some bigger workshops throughout the year where we have a professional artist come in and show us some different things.”

There will be artworks from many genres and styles on display each depicting a different style from the diverse group of artists.

The group ventures out regularly to visit the many galleries in the region to expand their creativity and visit with artists from different areas.

On display will be oils, water colours, acrylics, and sculptures with all the works available for sale.

Ms Autry said that they are trying to get MASH out into the wider world so that not only other people from different areas can experience their work but also the MASH artist can experience other artists work.

The Balranald Gallery has been run by volunteers for more than 40 years and is housed in the lovingly restored old freemason lodge at 51 Mayall Street.