Sr. Librarian-Digital Services Rashal McElderry with her torn paper collage and a painting by Library Associate Rachel Pearson. Courtesy/Step Up Gallery

A carved cottonwood bowl by Los Alamos Fire Capt. Raul Manzanares. Courtesy/Step Up Gallery

STEP UP GALLERY News:

The second biennial exhibit, Los Alamos County Employee Art Showcase, comes to a close next week Thursday, Jan. 7. Current and retired County employees share their artistic talent with the community and have been rewarded with high attendance and great comments from viewers.

Much of the art in the show is available for purchase. The public has responded by buying more art than was sold in the first art showcase two years ago. Many were purchased as holiday gifts.

There is still an opportunity to purchase large carved wooden bowls, end tables, and a carved crucifixion by Los Alamos Fire Department Capt. Raul Manzanares, a carving by Transit Dispatcher Ramon Trujillo, photographs by Assistant Public Information Officer Leslie Bucklin, Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker, and Sr. Office Specialist Camille Chavez, quilts and fiber collages by retired Library Program Specialist Katy Korkos, pastels and block prints by Library Associate Ken Nebel, oil and pastel paintings by Library Associate Rachel Pearson, watercolor paintings by Sr. Visual Information Specialist Sara Canfield, turned wooden bowls and vases by Payroll Specialist Mindy Gray, carved wooden boxes by Environmental Services Superintendent Terrance Gray, an ink drawing and fiber quilt by Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator Abbey Hayward, crocheted fiber art by CSD Sr. Management Analyst Chelsea Ashcraft, torn paper collages by Sr. Librarian-Digital Services Rashal McElderry, digital collages by Library Student Associate Oliver Pruitt, and wooden carved crosses by Ronald Martinez.

Note: Please contact the artist directly to inquire about a purchase. Contact information is provided on the wall tags adjacent to each piece.

About Step Up Gallery

Step Up Gallery (https://stepupgallery.org) is on the upper level of Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Ave., Los Alamos. The gallery is open during regular library hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and 1-5 p.m., Sunday.

Library Manager Gwen Kalvaza, left, and Assistant Public Information Officer Leslie Bucklin, who served as co-sponsor of the exhibit, attend opening reception. Courtesy/Step Up Gallery

Payroll Specialist Mindy Gray with her turned wooden bowls and vases. Courtesy/Step Up Gallery