Cynthia Maya – White Bear Center for the Arts

“A Culture of Pots 2025” Brings Minnesota’s Iconic Pottery Tour to WBCA

Typically spread across a 43-mile stretch down the St. Croix River Valley, select pots from Minnesota’s 33rd Annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour now congregate at White Bear Center for the Arts’ Ford Family Gallery for “A Culture of Pots 2025.” On view this summer, this curated pottery exhibit brings the energy of an open-air,…

Giant Art Takes Shape in WBCA’s Clay Studio

With trees blooming and water warming, summer is a good time to consider Minnesota as one of the best places to spend your time. And thanks to a recent mention in TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” list, it’s no longer an exaggeration—especially when talking about a special corner in Detroit Lakes. Tucked but not hidden…

Meet the Vision & Verse Judges

The “Vision & Verse: High School Visual Arts & Writing Exhibition” invites young creators across the Northeast Metro area to submit original works in either visual art or writing—or both. Winning entries receive cash prizes, and selected pieces are featured in WBCA’s annual student literary magazine, “Repose.” This year’s exhibition features 212 pieces of visual…

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…

Exploring the Art of Printmaking With “The Fine Print”

Something new and bold will be making its mark on White Bear Center for the Arts’ Exhibition Hall starting this February. “The Fine Print,” brings the diverse world of printmaking into view through a brand-new printmaking exhibition. Featuring works from emerging and established printmakers from around Minnesota, the show will highlight a broad range of…

The Hidden World of Words at WBCA

Walking into an art center, you might expect to find students crafting clay pots and dipping paint brushes into watercolor palettes. But what about a group of writers studiously scribbling away? More and more over the past two years, the classrooms at White Bear Center for the Arts have been home to groups of writers…

“Remember the Magic:” Dayton Holiday Show Documentary Unveils a Close White Bear Lake Connection

For over 50 years, the Minnesota holiday season was synonymous with Dayton’s 8th-floor, where the department store’s spectacular holiday shows captivated audiences with a blend of artistry, imagination, and holiday cheer. Now, almost a decade after its final show, it has become a memory to the many who got to witness its magic. This year,…

When the Earth Sings

Local artist Brianna Harrington spends a lot of time outdoors as an avid hiker, wellness coach, and master gardener, connecting to the earth and listening to the ground beneath her feet. Brianna’s new series, “Soil Song: Exploring the Decaying Vibrancy of the World’s Soil,” now on display at White Bear Center for the Arts, uses…

Stretching the Imagination: A New Experience in the Ford Family Gallery

Galleries have historically been thought of as neutral spaces to observe art, designed to present works in a controlled environment that invites intellectual reflection with their white walls and stark lighting. Now, White Bear Center for the Arts is bringing back a different way to engage with art: through mind and body. This December, the…

“Creative Pursuits” Advocates Creativity Among Those With ALS

Ken Baltes was many things, a lifelong computer technician, a late-blooming artist, a creative advocate, and above all, a cherished member of the community. Two years after his passing from ALS, White Bear Center for the Arts hosts “Creative Pursuits,” a pop-up exhibition in collaboration with the ALS Association. The exhibit highlights the creative talents…