Four Points of Light
April 28 - May 23, 2026
Free to see, open to all!
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to present Four Points of Light, a group exhibition featuring art by Calvin deRuyter, Lyssa Lovejoy, Jackie Henning, and Stephen Henning.
On view from Tuesday, April 28 through Saturday, May 23, 2026, this exhibition presents a diverse range of artistic approaches spanning painting and mixed media.
No formal artist reception will be held—stay tuned for Pop-Up Artist Talks throughout the exhibition.
About the Exhibition
Four Points of Light is a group exhibition born from a spirit of collaboration among four neighboring artists who chose to work collectively to expand visibility and deepen community engagement. What began as a series of coordinated studio events has evolved into a unified exhibition centered on the theme of light, explored as both subject and metaphor.
“Sometimes the best opportunities come from simply looking around and realizing who you can build something meaningful with,” said Stephen Henning. “This exhibition is a reflection of that shared effort and creative trust.”
While each artist brings a distinct voice and perspective, the collection is united by a shared interest in light as a means of expressing energy, atmosphere, and human connection.
“Though our styles differ, we discovered a common thread in how we each respond to light,” said Lyssa Lovejoy. “It became a natural foundation for this exhibition.”
About the Artists:
Artist Calvin deRuyter
Calvin deRuyter graduated with a degree in Fine Art with a focus on oil painting from Hamline University before setting down his brush to become a business owner. Twenty years later, deRuyter rekindled his interest in painting by discovering the joy -- and pain -- of the watercolor medium and landscape painting. In recent years, he has
branched out to embrace all forms of watermedia, and succumbed to world of abstraction.
deRuyter has received 29 awards for his paintings, including 8 Awards of Excellence and 4 Best in Show Awards. He has participated in 9 solo exhibitions and 16 group shows. His individual works have been accepted into 15 juried exhibitions and he has the honor of being the only artist juried into all 9 annual NorthStar Watermedia Society National Exhibitions.
deRuyter has also taught more than 30 classes and workshops for art organizations across Minnesota, has been asked to do more than 15 “live” painting demonstrations for Minnesota art groups, and has served as a judge for 14 art shows and photography salons.
Currently, his work is available through Art of the Lakes Gallery (Battle Lake, MN), the Art Preserve and Studio (White Bear Lake, MN), Main Frames Art Gallery (Perham, MN), and his own home-based Kron School Studio (Evansville, MN).
Artist Jackie Henning
Jackie Henning grew up in a family where art and engineering were equally celebrated, and she developed a keen interest in exploring both the aesthetics and the mechanics of her environment. Her pursuit of a BFA at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design led her to investigate the historical processes of photography, with a particular focus on 19th and early 20th-century techniques.
Jackie’s art career path includes theatrical set design, owner/operator of a company specializing in custom backdrops for commercial photography studios, and co-owner of Paint Designs – a faux-finish enterprise which served high end clients across five states with sophisticated surface textures for both residential and commercial interiors. Collaborating with her husband Stephen, Jackie co-founded AMS Digital Productions, creating video content for a diverse range of commercial clients.
Today, Jackie continues to explore new artistic avenues, focusing on mixed media painting that combines digital photography with three-dimensional elements.
Jackie has exhibited at the:
Colorado Photographic Arts Center
New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Beck Gallery, M State Fergus Falls
Art of the Lakes Gallery
Evansville Arts Center
Artist Stephen Henning
Stephen Henning is a self-taught landscape painter, although formal elements of his art education include two years in the Student Volunteer Program at Minneapolis Institute of Art, two years of painting foundation studies at MCAD, and two years in fine arts (painting) at University of Minnesota – Minneapolis Campus. Henning worked in graphic design for almost 20 years before he started to paint full time in 1993.
Since then, Henning has participated in many juried group shows and solo exhibitions of his work; here are just a few:
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts
New York Mills Regional Cultural Center,
Trinidad National Juried,
Voyageurs National Park – Rainy Lake Visitors Center,
MacRostie Art Center,
Rainy River Community College,
American Impressionist Society National Juried (2008, 2009),
Beck Gallery – M-State Fergus Falls Campus.
He has sold originals to collectors in all 50 states and on three continents, through galleries and online venues. Currently his work is available through Art of the Lakes Gallery (Battle Lake, MN), Dakota Fine Arts (Fargo, ND), and Dow Art Gallery (St. Paul, MN). He has also been artist-in-residence at many schools, and has taught painting workshops to art groups across the Midwest.
Artist Lyssa Lovejoy
Lyssa Lovejoy, based in Evansville, Minnesota, is a versatile artist who explores diverse themes through intertwined series, reflecting vibrant Western narratives, multicultural influences, wildlife beauty, and social issues. Her bold, expressive style combines Contemporary Symbolism, Abstract, and Expressionism, creating layered, textured works with hidden text that adds a storytelling dimension. Influenced by her father, Jimmy Lovejoy, and other prominent artists, she seeks to foster connection and dialogue through art, emphasizing themes of love, justice, resilience, and empathy in a fast-paced world.
Some of the solo and group exhibition venues Lyssa has been in include:
ABA Fine Arts – Indianapolis, IN
ECHO Arts Center – Indianapolis, IN
Art of the Lakes – Battle Lake, MN
Carlos Vinyards – Sioux Falls, SD
One Division Art – Buffalo, MN
The Carriage House – Chicago, IL
Visit the Gallery
📍 Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, 24 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN
📅 Exhibition Dates: April 28 - May 23, 2026
Gallery Hours:
- Tuesday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Wednesday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Thursday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Friday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm
Closed Sundays & Mondays; contact info@kulcher.org for private tours at other times.
The NYMRCC Gallery is always free to visit and open to all, thanks to the generous support of members and donors.
For more information, visit www.kulcher.org or contact Megan Shirley-Ross, Artistic Director, at 218-385-3339 or megan@kulcher.org.
Questions? Call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 or email info@kulcher.org.
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
