Jan Johansen Gallery

Thank you so much to Jan Johansen for your generous donation and for sponsoring our art gallery!

One issue many new and working artists experience is where to show their work. Our mission is to provide many opportunities and support the artwork of local artists. Gallery spaces bring the community together and creates a greater appreciation for art and conversation. Selected artwork may be available for sale.

Upcoming Shows

• Rumriver Art Center Teaching Artists: March 8, 2025 – March 29, 2025
• Nina Robinson – mask/UNmask: April 5, 2025 – May 3, 2025
• Call for Entry: May 10, 2025 – May 31, 2025
• Larry Homan: June 7, 2025 – July 5, 2025
• Julie Krahenbuhl and RRAC Open Studio Artists: July 12, 2025 – Aug 2, 2025
• Christine Tauer and Cherene Bebeau: August 9, 2025 – September 6, 2025
• Emily Robinson: September 13, 2025 – October 11, 2025
• Call for Entry: 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 3/22, 3/29, 4/12, 4/26, 5/17, 5/31: 10am – 3pm
Saturdays 4/4 & 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: Rumriver Art Center Teaching Artists

The Jan Johansen Gallery of Rumriver Art Center is presenting the Rumriver Art Center Teaching Artists exhibition. The opening reception is on Saturday, March 8th from 2 – 4 pm and will be held in our Jan Johansen Gallery. Attendance is free.
Every artist that teaches with us brings their unique skill set, personality, and artistic enthusiasm into our space. This show gives thanks to the vibrant community of teachers that we have the honor of working with and to highlight each of their personal practices. A wide variety of mediums will be on display, such as watercolor, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media works and acrylic paintings. The pieces featured are ones that our teachers feel best represent their practice, are most proud of, or hold a special place in their life. Additionally, this show will be opening in tandem with our first ever Art Gala and annual Art-A-Thon fundraiser.
This exhibition will be on display in our Jan Johansen Gallery from March 8th to March 29th, 2025.

Next Gallery Show: mask/UNmask

The Jan Johansen Gallery of Rumriver Art Center is presenting mask/UNmask by artist Nina Robinson. On April 5th from 2 pm – 4 pm the gallery will be hosting an opening reception for Robinson’s show. On Saturday, April 12th at 3 pm Robinson will be giving an artist talk discussing her practice and demonstrating her process using her sewing machine.
Nina Robinson is a textile artist from the northern suburbs of St. Paul, MN. For the last 6 years she has been investigating neurocomplexity, specifically, how people on the autism spectrum are perceived by society. She believes that a sewing machine and repurposed clothing can be a conduit for change. Change in perception and acceptance of neurodivergence as well as, change how the viewer thinks of textiles and stitching as a fine art.
Robinson says “The physical act of sewing is a way for me to “stim” or self-soothe, but more than that, it is my creative outlet. Stitching, working with my hands and on my vintage Singer sewing machine, has allowed me to process my adult son’s autistic diagnosis furthermore, it has granted me the freedom to explore my own autism discovery.”
She explains that autism is a complex neurological condition that often presents differently in boys than in girls. Young girls are often misdiagnosed with other mental health disorders, they suffer from exhaustion or are told they are too sensitive and need to toughen up. There are various reasons why girls are misdiagnosed, but one factor that is consistently observed is girl’s learn to mask their autistic traits at an early age to be accepted by their peers. Masking is a complex strategy as it can have serious effects on physical and mental health. Women who are diagnosed with autism later in life often experience a loss of identity due to masking much of their lives. Robinson’s most recent textile sculptures have focused on masking and exploring how she navigates and experiences the world as an autistic female.
Her artistic process begins by deconstructing discarded garments. Utilizing her sewing machine, she uses a fabric collage technique to reassemble the fabric components into large, geometric, flat forms. The forms are intuitively stitched together resulting in a 3-dimensional soft sculpture or “mask.” Finally, the “mask” is embellished with beads and buttons.
Sustainability is very important to her practice as the clothing industry’s impact on the environment is extreme. 85% of all textiles end up in landfills or are shipped overseas, with only 15% being donated or recycled. Her hope is to keep her own textile waste to a minimum by using the garments that she has rescued in her art.
The exhibition will open April 5th and run until May 3rd, 2025.

Past Shows