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 options and funding 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
- Art Jacobs – Pastel Images – Landscapes and Still Lifes: April 5, 2025 – May 3, 2025
- Erik Jon Olson – The medium IS the message: May 10, 2025 – May 31, 2025
- Lucy Sinkkonen: 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
Spring Hours (3/10 – 5/31)
Mondays, Tuesdays: 10am – 7pm
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 10am – 3pm
Saturdays 4/12, 4/26, 5/17, 5/31: 10am – 3pm
Saturday 5/10: 10am – 4pm
Saturday 5/3 & Sunday 5/4: 10am – 5pm
Closed Sundays
Closed Friday, May 23rd through Monday, May 26th
Current Gallery Show: Pastel Images – Landscapes and Still Lifes
The 21 Step Gallery of Rumriver Art Center is presenting Pastel Images – Landscapes and Still Lifes by artist Art Jacobs. Art Jacobs’ show features beautifully rendered still lifes and landscapes completed in soft pastel. On Saturday, April 5th from 2 pm – 4 pm the 21 Step Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for Art Jacobs’ show. On Saturday, April 12th at 1 pm Jacobs will be giving an artist talk accompanied by a demonstration of different pastels and various mark making techniques.
Art Jacobs journey as an artist has been an evolving process, punctuated by explorations across various mediums and styles. From a young age, he found expression through art. His first art exhibit was at the age of 16, a series of charcoal portraits portraying notable African Americans. A trip he took to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris in order to view the works of Edgar Degas, sparked his interest in the pastel medium. He has honed his skills through practice and dedication, ultimately leading to juried membership in the Pastel Society of America (PSA). He continues to develop his skills through attending numerous workshops via the PSA.
Jacobs says that pastels have become a passionate form of expression, offering a unique blend of color and texture that is unparalleled by other mediums. His pastel work is characterized by vibrant hues, delicate transitions, and strong contrasts that invites viewers to experience the artwork on an emotional and intellectual level.
In his pastel work, he employs a variety of techniques to achieve the desired effects. Layering, blending, and stippling are some of the methods he uses to create depth and richness in his compositions. His style is often described as a harmonious balance between representation and a nod to impressionism, where detailed rendering coexists with expressive strokes.
Describing the connection of the work in his show, he details “objects and colors in nature provide us with the inspiration and motivation to bring these elements into our living space for creative display and enrichment.” Each piece reflects his observations, interpretations, and emotions, captured through the lens of pastel artistry. He strives to convey a sense of boldness, vitality, and sensitivity in his work.
The exhibition will open April 5th and run until May 3rd, 2025.
Next Gallery Show: The medium IS the message
The 21 Step Gallery of Rumriver Art Center is excited to present The medium IS the message. This exhibition will be showcasing a fascinating collection by Twin Cities artist Erik Jon Olson that examines the effects of consumerism and the legacy of mass production. On May 10th, from 2 pm – 4pm Rumriver Art Center is hosting an opening reception for Olson’s show. Additionally, during the opening attendees can meet Olson in-person. On Tuesday, May 13th from 6 -7 pm Olson will provide an artist talk where he will explain his practice and body of work in-depth.
This show features artwork that beautifully illuminates unpleasant truths about plastic. Using quilted plastic waste as his medium, Olson turns single-use plastic waste into visually intriguing and thought-provoking installations. His work combines environmental advocacy with contemporary art, transforming typically useless materials into striking visual pieces. Using quilting techniques such as detailed layering and the bold use of color and texture, Olson re-envisions plastic waste in a way that is both beautiful to behold and challenging to ponder.
By minimizing his carbon footprint and elevating the medium without denying what it is, his art asks viewers to reconsider our society’s relationship to plastic, our willingness to waste, and the resulting alienation from our environment.
The exhibition will open May 10th and run until May 31st, 2025.
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
- Emma Ahart – Visceral: October 12, 2024 – November 9, 2024
- Holiday Show and Shop: November 16, 2024 – December 21, 2024
- Laura Hanson – Forced Witness: January 4, 2025 – February 1, 2025
- Angie Renee – Inked, Ripped, Glued: The Processing of Creating Light Within the Dark: February 15, 2025 – March 1, 2025
- Jena Rivard – It’s Made From WHAT???: March 8, 2025 – March 29, 2025