51st Annual Northern Lights: A Tale of Two Sculptors
For over half a century, the Northern Lights Juried Art Exhibition at White Bear Center for the Arts has illuminated the creative journeys of artists living in Minnesota. Since its debut in 1974, this prestigious exhibition has fostered an environment of both challenge and solidarity for local artists, giving them a chance to showcase their works and receive recognition for outstanding work. One artist who has been there since the beginning is George GI Moore, whose history with the exhibition spans decades.
George, a 3M Chemist by trade, first submitted to Northern Lights’ inaugural exhibition in 1974 with his sculpture, “Dancing Lady,” a skeletal human figure carved from walnut. Since the ’80s, he has submitted almost every year.
Having sculpted for 70 years, he’s now deemed a veteran artist, but there was a time when even George was a beginner. Through the course of his education as a chemist, he took no time for art education and was mostly self-taught. Inspired by early 20th-century European sculptors and, most personally, by his grandfather, George Read, an accomplished wood sculptor.
Having lived in Birchwood in the 1970s, he was well acquainted with White Bear Center for the Arts, or the White Bear Arts Council as it was known then. Over the last 51 years, he’s earned thirty acceptances and numerous awards. For George, Northern Lights isn’t just a place to showcase his work but a chance to engage with artists and be inspired by the creativity in the gallery. “The show is a highlight of the arts year in Minnesota and attracts many excellent artists and judges,” he says. His presence in the exhibition is a testament to the dedication to his craft, and saying the entry deadline encourages him to finish a few good pieces every year.
This year, the exhibition brought forth a new voice: Dan Volenec, whose piece “Carapace” won this year’s Best of Show award. As an artist whose primary medium is painting and drawing, “Carapace” stands out among his work. A sculpture that is a delicate balance of strength and grace, the 4-foot tall lapis blue turtle shell shimmers with gold veins and weighs only about 7 pounds.
On the night of the Northern Lights Community Reception, Dan was called up to receive his award and stood patiently while he heard the judges’ praise and feedback. But before he walked back to take his seat, he exclaimed, “Wait!”
“I have a message for everyone,” he continued. “I attempted this piece 10 years ago but failed. Now, ten years later, it’s winning a Best of Show award.” He ended with telling the crowd, “Don’t give up!”
Dan now recounts his first attempt at making “Carapace” a decade ago. “I had cut the [shell] segments as flat pieces. If you’ve ever tried to take flat pieces and turn them into a curved object, you’ll discover that they no longer fit together in 3-dimensional space the same way they fit in two dimensions.” But he didn’t give up, instead, he adapted. “I put the idea aside but kept thinking about the problem.” Encouraged by his friend and fellow sculptor Dennis Kalow, who is also featured in this year’s Northern Lights, he eventually returned to the project. For Dan, “Carapace” is more than just a sculpture, it’s a personal victory. “I’ll admit it was an ego boost to see it come together and no longer feel defeated,” he said. “Having learned much during this trial and error, I’m eager to continue this form of fabrication.”
These stories reflect the spirit of Northern Lights, an exhibition that not only celebrates the finished products but also the journeys that artists take to create these works of art. WBCA’s Ford Family Gallery becomes a place where you can find stories of struggle, growth, and success celebrated through every piece displayed.
As this year’s exhibition prepares to come to a close, it’s clear that the Northern Lights Juried Art Exhibition continues to shine as brightly as the day it began. As George put it, “It’s equally stimulating to be accepted and to mix with the other artists,” a celebration of art in all its forms, inspiring both artists and viewers to keep pushing the bounds of their creativity.
The 51st Northern Lights Juried Art Exhibition is on display in White Bear Center for the Arts’ Ford Family Gallery until March 27.