WBCA Stories

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…

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…

Sometimes all it takes to inspire someone to continue pursuing their artistic dreams is to give them a platform for their work. That’s one of many reasons why White Bear Center for the Arts’ annual high school visual arts and writing contests are so powerful. Each year, local students in grades 9-12 submit their poems,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This summer, White Bear Center for the Arts collaborated with celebrated public artist and WBCA teaching artist Jessica Turtle to create a community-driven mural installation. It’s in the name, but you wouldn’t believe the connections made over a community mural. Over the course of five days, Jessica was joined by over 100 people to paint…

Seeing sunbeams after the long dreary winter days, have you been finding your home or studio lacking in inspiration? You might want to try art en plein air. En plein air is a French expression, meaning simply, “in the open air.” As with most things when said in French, it gains a romantic quality. But…