A group exhibition involving all 13 resident artists at the Art Gallery on Ovens has opened at the gallery in the laneway off Murphy Street in Wangaratta.

To celebrate the annual event, the artist-run, non-profit gallery invites the community to spend Saturday morning in the courtyard, where a number of the artists will be in action, offering everyone a glimpse into their creative process.

Resident artist Karen Brown will be among those demonstrating their practice, using graphite pencils, fine-liner pens and coloured pencils to create drawings that appear almost photographic, celebrating the humble beauty in nature, including fallen leaves.

Up to eight artists will be set up with one of their works in progress, offering a unique opportunity for the public to watch, ask questions and find out more about what they do.

Karen said the event would showcase the artists' wide variety of interests, demonstrating mediums including acrylic and oil paints, collage, PanPastels, mixed media, pencil and ink stippling.

"For us it's about generating interest in the gallery, the individual artists and what they do, and giving people a look behind the scenes," she said.

"There will be a really broad range to see and its being held in conjunction with our group exhibition of finished works on display in the gallery."

Karen said while it is not a market, as a pre-Christmas event, there will be unique, original artworks and other interesting items including cards and giftware on sale at the gallery.

"For a little gallery like ours, we're actually quite diverse, and a few of us won awards at the King Valley Art show recently which is really exciting," she said.

"We're not a commercial gallery - we do what we do for pleasure, and in the hope of perhaps inspiring people as well."

The demonstration will be held in the courtyard on Saturday, 6 December from 10am to 12pm, with the exhibition Thirteen open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturday to Sunday from 10am until 2pm until 22 December.

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What's on in brief

Friends of Wangaratta Library book sale

The Friends of Wangaratta Library are holding a book sale on Saturday, 6 December from 9.30am to 12noon at Wangaratta Library.

There will be a large range of second-hand adult fiction, non-fiction and children’s books to choose from and all money raised will assist the library in providing programming and events.

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Christmas Market in St Patrick's Hall

A Christmas Market in the Hall will be held on Saturday, 6 December from 9am to 1pm at St Patrick's Hall in Ford Street, Wangaratta.

Browse stalls to stock up on Christmas gifts and goodies, with free tea and coffee provided and Santa to be in his photo corner from 10.30am to midday for those who want to take their own photos.

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Johnny and Rebecca at Da Vinci Social Club

Johnny and Rebecca will play everyone's favourite hits at the Da Vinci Social Club on Sunday, 7 December from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

With their extensive backgrounds in live music and well-matched vocals, the pair will have everyone dancing, singing and clapping along.

Entry is $20 members ($25 for non-members) and afternoon tea is included with bookings preferred for catering purposes by calling 0409 307 606 or email dvsc.wang@gmail.com.

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WSO and Chime Choir present Hallelujah Christmas

Celebrate the joy of the season with a festive concert full of wonder, warmth and glorious music when the Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra and Chime Choir combine for Hallelujah Christmas at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Sunday, 7 December at 2.30pm.

Together they present an uplifting program of traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites, including orchestral and choral classics, before uniting to perform stirring excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, including the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus, and a community carol sing-along.

A family-friendly event perfect for all ages, tickets are available at wpacc.com.au.

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Pleats of Matter at Wangaratta Art Gallery

An exhibition by Melbourne-based artist Kate V M Sylvester called Pleats of Matter is being held in Gallery 2 at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

For this exhibition, Sylvester has created an immersive installation made from deconstructed, recycled t-shirts, meticulously unthreaded by hand to reveal the mass and structure of the jersey weave.

Her exhibition responds to the garment’s integrity, resulting in a form shaped by gravity, time, and environment, and it can be seen until 11 January.

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Overland exhibition at Wangaratta Art Gallery

The first solo hometown exhibition of nationally acclaimed, Wangaratta-born artist Matthew Harris, is being presented at the Wangaratta Art Gallery until 18 January.

The Melbourne-based artist creates thought-provoking works in painting and sculpture that critically examine social power structures and historical narratives.

His exhibition, Overland unpacks the lasting impact of colonisation on the Wangaratta region and its First Peoples, in a new series of paintings informed by historical documents, alongside textile sculpture With a Warm Embrace, 2023; part of the Wangaratta Art Gallery collection.

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Wangaratta community market

The Wangaratta community market runs every Sunday (except Easter Sunday) at Moore Than Swimming, located at 11-13 Mason Street in Wangaratta, from 8am until 1pm.

There are a wide range of stalls to browse with new and used items, plants, fruit and veg and more, with refreshments available.

Stalls are available for just $20 each (no bookings required) and car boot sales are welcome for $15, with more information via the market's Facebook page or call Sheree on 0401 665 886.

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Wangaratta Historical Society open weekends

Take a trip down memory lane each weekend by visiting the Wangaratta Historical Society and Museum in the old fire station in Ford Street.

The museum is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and entry is free, with exhibitions updated regularly.

For more information email wangarattahistorialsociety@gmail.com or drop in and have a chat.

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