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…

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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…

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Vision & Verse: Giving High School Artists a Platform to Shine

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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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“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…

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Jessica Turtle Creates a Community Mural at WBCA

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…

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The Power of Plein Air: The Benefits of Doing Art in Nature

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…

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WBCA Launches Paid High School Internship Program

Inside White Bear Center for the Arts’ administrative office, high schoolers are busy at work, learning how to install exhibits, design promotional materials, and work in arts administration. Seven students from local high schools recently accepted positions as interns at White Bear Center for the Arts through an internship program called “Studio Repose.” The internship…

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