Youth Art Month has been celebrated in March at schools all around the country since 1961. In honor of youth art education, Los Alamos Public Schools student artwork will be on display March 14 –April 8 in Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library. The public is invited to attend the Opening Reception on Thursday, March 14 from 5:00 – 7:00pm. In the past, the show has attracted hundreds of visitors on opening night and district art teachers hope Thursday’s opening will be just as successful! 

The LAPS art team, led by Stephanie Rittner from Pinon Elementary, is composed of 10 talented educators. Mary Grace, Libby Lovejoy, and Dottie Lopez make up the high school art team. Claire Stewart and Lisa Fisher head up the middle school art team. Your elementary art team is comprised of Andrea Lynch from Chamisa, Jesse Ross from Mountain, Stephen Parise from Barranca Mesa, Stephanie Rittner at Pinon, and long-term substitute Holly Robinson at Aspen. They will be on hand to greet students and welcome their friends and families on Thursday evening in the rotunda just outside Step Up Gallery.

The show highlights artwork, both 2-D and 3-D, created by local student artists at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. This year’s All Schools Student Art Show is an excellent opportunity to see what the LAPS art program is working on with students at each level and how the art program builds on itself throughout a child’s school experience. This would not be possible without its stellar group of art teachers, each bringing their own love, enthusiasm and talent to the program. 

Step Up Gallery is on the upper level of Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Avenue in Los Alamos. The gallery’s hours are the same as the library hours: Monday – Thursday, 10am – 8pm; Friday, 10am – 6pm; Saturday, 10am – 5pm; Sunday, 1pm – 5pm. Admission is free and open to the public.