Gallery events are free and open to all in our community thanks to our 21 Step Gallery Sponsor: Random Hippie https://www.randomhippie.com/ (Oct 12 – November 9)! Their generous sponsorship fuels creativity in the NW Metro, funding studio space for gallery displays and art instruction.
To support creativity in the NW metro – please visit: https://rumriverart.com/support/
The Rumriver Art Gallery was initiated to support and show local artists’ work. One issue many artists experience is where to show their work as gallery space can be limited, especially to those who are just starting. Our mission with the gallery is to support and show the artwork of local artists. The shows are changed every month, providing many opportunities throughout the year for artists to display their work. The Art Gallery brings the community together and creates a greater appreciation for art. Selected artwork may be available for sale.
Being that we are located in a very old building, there are no elevators or escalators. The only way into the 21 Step Gallery is to climb up 18 stairs. We are currently exploring funding options such as grants and fundraisers to get a chair lift installed for the stairway to make this gallery more accessible for everyone.
If you’ve ever counted the stairs on your way up to visit the 21 Step Gallery, you may have tilted your head in confusion as your count abruptly stopped at 18 steps.
Legend has it that Rumriver Art Center Director Larry Weinberg was CERTAIN there were 21 steps. RRAC Co-founder Susan Yee suggested it was 18.
Susan was correct.
But being the fun, quirky Art Center RRAC is, Larry’s certainty was honored with the title: 21 Step Gallery.
Larry suggests that it remained the 21 Step Gallery to honor Susan’s birthday, which falls on the ’21st,’ and that 21 is a popular and memorable number.
Upcoming Shows
- Emma Ahart – Visceral: October 12, 2024 – November 9, 2024
- Holiday Show and Shop: November 16, 2024 – December 21, 2024
- Laura Hanson: January 4, 2025 – February 1, 2025
- Angie Renee: February 8, 2025 – March 1, 2025
- Jena Rivard: March 8, 2025 – March 29, 2025
- Art Jacobs: April 5, 2025 – May 3, 2025
- Ju-Ping Huang: May 10, 2025 – May 31, 2025
- Pamela Lifson: June 7, 2025 – July 5, 2025
- Eric Zuccola: July 12, 2025 – Aug 2, 2025
- Jill Whitney: August 9, 2025 – September 6, 2025
- Deborah Ann Kirkeeide: September 13, 2025 – October 11, 2025
- Bonnie Klatt: October 18, 2025 – November 8, 2025
- Holiday Show and Shop: November 15, 2025 – December 20, 2025
Gallery Hours
Fall Hours (9/30 – 12/20)
Mondays, Tuesdays: 10am – 7pm
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 10am – 3pm
Saturdays 11/2 & 11/9: 10am – 3pm
Saturdays 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21: 10am – 4pm
Someone may be available beyond those hours and if there is a class scheduled on our CALENDAR there may be someone at the Art Center able to assist you. Please call 763-323-8830 or e-mail sales@rumriverart.com first to make arrangements if you need to stop in outside of our office hours.
Current Gallery Show: Visceral
The 21 Step Gallery of Rumriver Art Center is presenting Visceral by artist Emma Ahart. On October 12th from 2 pm – 4 pm the 21 Step Gallery will be hosting an opening for Ahart’s show. On Saturday, November 2nd from 11 am – 12 pm Ahart will be giving an artist talk, this is a free event and anyone is welcome to attend.
Ahart has been creating art since she could hold a pencil. She grew up exploring as many art mediums as she could through opportunities presented through school and family encouragement. Drawing was her main area of focus, and she did not start painting until taking a class in high school where it quickly became her favorite medium. Now acrylic paintings are her go-to when it comes to making personal art that is not related to school or her job. Within her exploration of art through the years she would be drawn to themes that would include heavy personal symbolism as a means of self expression, and she places significant value in works that could elicit an emotional response from viewers. Her work has been included in several community gallery shows, including two call for entry shows at Rumriver Art Center.
Ahart struggled trying to figure out what she wanted to pursue for a career after high school, but with the encouragement of several teachers she ultimately decided to pursue teaching art. She completed her general credits at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stout to complete her Bachelors of Science in Art Education in the spring of 2021. In the spring of 2024 she completed her Masters in Education and Differentiated Instruction. After graduating with her bachelors she taught painting and drawing at Anoka High School and is now working alongside the teachers who inspired her in the first place. Ahart is now in her fourth year of teaching and has truly loved the experience and is looking forward to the years to come.
Through this show Ahart explores several themes that draw heavy inspiration from personal meaning in her life. These themes include the relationship with ones’ self and with others, self perception, beginnings and endings, desire, longing, acceptance, and balance. A goal she had for her work was to create imagery that would be emotionally impactful. She explored this through high contrast, color choice, and pieces including wolves and deer that are unsettling, mysterious, and thought-provoking. Red is the most prominent color used, with the intention of creating a sense of power and intensity in many of her pieces.
The exhibition will open October 12th and run until November 9th, 2024.
Next Gallery Show: Holiday Show and Shop
Rumriver Art Center is excited to announce our annual Holiday Show and Shop! The Show and Shop will be open in our Jan Johansen gallery and throughout the art center (2665 4th Ave, Suite 103, Anoka). There will be hundreds of unique items available for purchase made by dozens of local artists. The variety of artwork in the Holiday Show and Shop will include textiles, ceramics, art prints, stained glass, paintings, jewelry, and much more. This is a perfect opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind holiday gifts! Check out our Holiday Show and Shop webpage for more information!
Our show and shop opening will take place on Saturday, November 16th from 10am – 4pm.
Past Shows
- Surelle Schewe – The Stories She Tells: Saturday, September 10, 2022 – Saturday, October 1, 2022
- Call for Entry – World of Anime: Saturday, October 8, 2022 – Saturday, October 29, 2022
- Paul Hanson – Portraits in Watercolor: Saturday, November 5, 2022 – Saturday, December 17, 2022
- Sanjukta Mitra – Spiritus: Saturday, January 7, 2023 – Saturday, January 28, 2023
- Danniella Mortezaee – Love Always: Saturday, February 4, 2023 – Saturday, February 25, 2023
- Val Coopet – Faces and Places: Saturday, March 4, 2023 – Saturday, March 25, 2023
- Montana Becker – Prone to Wander: Saturday, April 1, 2023 – Saturday, April 22, 2023
- Kenya Latourneau – Kenya Letourneau’s Kreations!: Saturday, June 3, 2023 – Saturday, July 29, 2023
- Juanita Tatum – Exploring Emotions Through Faces: Saturday, August 5, 2023 – Saturday, September 30, 2023
- Britt Maki – Don’t Be Hasty: Saturday, October 7, 2023 – Saturday, November 4, 2023
- Holiday Show and Shop: Saturday, November 18, 2023 – Saturday, December 30, 2023
- Margarita Stantchevski – Beauty and More: Saturday, February 10, 2024 – Saturday, March 9, 2024
- Joel Springer – Finding My Voice: Saturday, March 16, 2024 – Saturday, April 13, 2024
- Lynelle Kocher – Bits and Places: Saturday, April 20, 2024 – Saturday, May 11, 2024
- MaryLeah Marshall – Themes from Nature: A Collection: Saturday, May 18, 2024 – Saturday, June 8, 2024
- Rachel Coyne – Rock and Rollerskate: Saturday, June 15, 2024 – Wednesday, July 3, 2024
- Jerry Jorgenrud – Spiritus: Saturday, July 13, 2024 – Saturday, August 3, 2024
- Sandy Adler – Celebrate Creation: August 10, 2024 – September 7, 2024
- Carol Collins – Wonderful World of Fur and Feathers: September 14, 2024 – October 5, 2024