Tell Me a Love Story, group gallery show opens in the Jan Johansen Gallery on May 10th. Don’t miss these powerful stories brought to life through stunning artwork.
Featuring over 50 artists exploring love in all its forms, this exhibition takes you on an emotional journey through collage, photography, painting, and more. Each artist shares a story of how their work captures a moment or feeling of love. (We’ll have tissues handy… you just might need them.)
This spring, Rumriver Art Center’s Jan Johansen Gallery proudly introduced a new element to our Call for Entry exhibitions: Judges’ Choice Awards. Every exhibition is filled with incredible pieces, and we want to honor the time and labor artists put into their artwork. The Judges’ Choice Award was introduced to honor three artists whose pieces resonated especially strongly with our judges and are strong representations of the respective show’s theme. Selected through a blind judging process, three standout pieces now receive small cash prizes.
As participation in our gallery shows continues to grow, so does our ability to dedicate funding to recognize and reward artists. We’re excited to add this opportunity for artists now and in future group gallery shows.
Let’s meet the winners and learn the love stories that inspired their work:
Congratulations 🎖 Third Place: “Release” by Emily Robinson
“It has been said that love and grief are two sides of the same coin. Over the past 12 months, I have experienced love through loss and grief. While I have known the pain of losing friends, family, and pets, none of those losses prepared me for the death of my husband.
In an instant, the romantic and platonic love I had known for decades began to shift into something different: profound grief. And I hated it. My mind felt scrambled as I tried to adjust to the reality that I would never again feel his touch or hear his voice—never again share a conversation with my favorite person and partner in this life.
I learned very quickly that if I didn’t allow myself to relax into the pain of grief as it came, I might drown.
This piece is a representation of my grief. It is titled “Release”—a nod to one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs of the same name. It reflects my need to “…ride the wave where it takes me…” and to accept this new phase of our love story.” Emily Robinson
Congratulations 🎖 Second Place: “Tender Refuge” by Liisa Lê
“In my painting Tender Refuge, the deep, unconditional love of the mother Sandhill Crane for her colt is at the heart of the piece. It speaks to our universal need for love, a place where we can feel safe, heard, and truly seen.” Liisa Lê
Congratulations 🎖 First Place: “Florida Snow” by Kathryn D’Elia
“This painting is a portrait of my Grandmother sitting at the kitchen table in my childhood home, and so named because of the beautiful glowing white of her hair that emerged when finally she stopped dyeing it brown.
We have spent countless hours together in this space, and when I think about her, I always imagine her like this, mid-sentence telling me stories and throwing in a few slightly-made up words. As I have grown, our relationship has evolved. She’s no longer an unquestionable sharer of fact, like she was to me in my childhood, but she is important and charming, and even if she’s lecturing me, I treasure any time I have with her. That is what love is to me, appreciation and connection to another regardless of frustrations or misunderstandings, commitment to spending time and accepting each other.” Kathryn D’Elia
The “Tell Me a Love Story” exhibition runs May 10–31, 2025, at the Jan Johansen Gallery at Rumriver Art Center. Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 10, from 2–4pm. The show will then travel to Northtown Library, where it will be on display from June 2 through August 7.
This show—and every artist in it—is made possible by the collective effort of our community. Huge thanks to our generous donors, dedicated volunteers, and passionate Board of Directors—your support keeps art accessible to all. We couldn’t do it without you. Learn more and support
Don’t miss your chance to experience these powerful stories of love through the eyes of over 50 local artists. Admission is free and all are welcome.