COMMUNITY News:

“A Drawing Show: the Backbone of Art” opens Thursday in Step Up Gallery. The public is invited to attend an Opening Reception 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

During the reception at 2:30 p.m., monetary prizes will be given to the artists who submitted the top three drawings. The judge is Ken Nebel, owner of Village Arts at 216 DP Road.

Many different drawing media is represented in the 52 pieces of art in the exhibit, including drawing pencil, colored pencils, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, pastel pencil, markers, conte sticks and scratchboard. The subject matter is equally diverse: portraits, human figures, animals, flowers, landscapes, cityscapes and still-lifes.

The exhibit will run through Nov. 15.

Much of the art is for sale and can be purchased online at https://stepupgallerymarket.artspan.com/home. Step Up Gallery on the upper level of Mesa Public Library, is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sundays. Admission is free.