Art in Community Upcoming events Sandcastles & Creatures Building Contest Memorial Beach, White Bear Lake Saturday, June 21, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Get out your buckets and shovels and head to Memorial Beach for Manitou Days to build your own sandcastle or creature and see who comes out on top! Midsummer Art Fest White Bear Center for the Arts Friday, July 18, 12:00-6:00 PM Art, community, and music all come together for Midsummer Art Fest at White Bear Center for the Arts. Shop from WBCA students and teaching artists at the art sale. Make some- thing new at interactive art stations. Or, if you're competing in WBCA's Into Nature Plein Air Competition, pick up your lanyard, bring your paints, and capture the scene. Lakeshore Summer Camp: No Place Like Shiz The Hanifl Performing Arts Center July 21-August 8, 1:00-4:00 PM This three-week camp empowers 7th-12th grade students to create an original Wicked & Wizard of Oz- themed theatrical piece from the ground up through collaborative exercises, improvisation, and creative brainstorming. Lakeshore Summer Camp: Caterpillar Camp The Hanifl Performing Arts Center July 21-July 25, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM In this "Very Hungry Adventure," Campers will develop their creativity and imagination, build confidence in performing, learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, and have a whole lot of fun! This camp is perfect for budding performers who love to sing, dance, and play! You can find a full list of classes in WBCA's quarterly printed catalog and online at WhiteBearArts.org/ classes. '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, grassroots art experience into a single, thoughtfully designed space. With white walls, soft lighting and more than 200 ceramic vessels from almost 70 pottery tour artists, plus a striking wooden structure to hold them, the result is an exhibition that reflects not only the aesthetic range of the potters but also the deep sense of community and craftsmanship that supports it. Originally inspired by the 2017 exhibition at the Weisman Art Museum, WBCA's exhibit borrows both its name and spirit. Now in its 33rd year, the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour is among the most respected studio pottery events in the country. The tour draws thousands of visitors to seven host studios scattered across the St. Croix River Valley. But in the calm of a gallery setting, it takes on a new dimension. "The flow is about creating an environment similar to the outdoor experience of the annual pottery tour, but taking it indoors to a gallery setting," WBCA Exhibitions Manager and show curator, Karna Holub, said. "With over 200 pieces, the challenge was how to elevate each collection as equally as possible." Facing you as you enter the gallery, and impossible to ignore as it holds dozens of ceramic pieces, is a large wooden structure designed by WBCA Resident Artist and co- curator, Kyle Frederickson. Built from reclaimed wood, the structure anchors the exhibition both visually and symbolically, calling back to the tour's rustic aesthetic. "It will be amazing to see the work of this year's potters all displayed in one gallery," said Linda Christensen, one of the tour's longtime potters and host. "As hosts, we are unable to get around to see the other studios, so this will be a great opportunity." The spirit of pottery, Linda said, has deep roots in the St. Croix Valley. Pottery has been made in the region since the Oneota period, dating back to 900 A.D. Shell-tempered clay vessels were once shaped by hands along the same river banks where Christensen and her peers now work. The modern studio pottery movement here began in the 1950s, when Warren MacKenzie settled in the area. The rest of the eventual original pottery tour hosts, including Linda, followed, all arriving by the 1970s. Together, they built not only a thriving scene but a mission to give back. "It has been important for the tour to quietly foster pottery culture," Linda said. "A Culture of Pots 2025" channels that philosophy, showcasing the diversity in technique and aesthetic from the tour's artists. Some work in porcelain, others in stoneware or earthenware. Some fire with gas, others with wood. The unifying theme? Usefulness. "There is no one aesthetic other than the concept of useful pottery," Linda said. "All of the participants come with their own histories-some were trained in Photos By Morgan Pearson | Contributed apprenticeships, some in universities, some are self- taught. Some come from other mediums entirely." The exhibition at WBCA reflects this, offering viewers more than just beautiful objects but an introduction to modern ceramics. Compared to the 1950s or 1970s when ceramicists had "minimal influence," according to Linda, potters these days are exposed to everything digitally, so this exhibition will "tell a story of diversity of style," she hinted. Karna had a similar request: "When you view each piece, keep in mind that this is one concept-to make a pot, vessel, or plate out of the same medium of clay, and from that concept over 200 interpretations have emerged through color, form, shape, and texture." For her, the exhibition is also personal. "At WBCA, we have a rapidly growing clay program," she said. "I've recently taken pottery classes, and immediately noticed a 'culture' of potters in the studios. Support, encouragement, laughter, and loyalty are a few words that come to mind. I can only imagine that the potters from the St. Croix Pottery Tour also have that same sense of community." That community is the thread that runs through everything in "A Culture of Pots 2025," connecting the creation of the first Oneota pots to the freshly-glazed mugs in the Tour. While the tour's open-air spontaneity can't be fully recreated indoors, the exhibition offers something new: A chance to slow down and connect with the hands that shaped each form. "A Culture of Pots 2025" is on view through July 25 at White Bear Center for the Arts. For more information, visit whitebeararts.org. Art in Community Upcoming events Sandcastles & Creatures Building Contest Memorial Beach , White Bear Lake Saturday , June 21 , 10:00 AM - 12 : 00 PM Get out your buckets and shovels and head to Memorial Beach for Manitou Days to build your own sandcastle or creature and see who comes out on top ! Midsummer Art Fest White Bear Center for the Arts Friday , July 18 , 12 : 00-6 : 00 PM Art , community , and music all come together for Midsummer Art Fest at White Bear Center for the Arts . Shop from WBCA students and teaching artists at the art sale . Make some- thing new at interactive art stations . Or , if you're competing in WBCA's Into Nature Plein Air Competition , pick up your lanyard , bring your paints , and capture the scene . Lakeshore Summer Camp : No Place Like Shiz The Hanifl Performing Arts Center July 21 - August 8 , 1 : 00-4 : 00 PM This three - week camp empowers 7th - 12th grade students to create an original Wicked & Wizard of Oz- themed theatrical piece from the ground up through collaborative exercises , improvisation , and creative brainstorming . Lakeshore Summer Camp : Caterpillar Camp The Hanifl Performing Arts Center July 21 - July 25 , 9:00 AM - 12 : 00 PM In this " Very Hungry Adventure , " Campers will develop their creativity and imagination , build confidence in performing , learn about the life cycle of a butterfly , and have a whole lot of fun ! This camp is perfect for budding performers who love to sing , dance , and play ! You can find a full list of classes in WBCA's quarterly printed catalog and online at WhiteBearArts.org/ classes . ' 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 , grassroots art experience into a single , thoughtfully designed space . With white walls , soft lighting and more than 200 ceramic vessels from almost 70 pottery tour artists , plus a striking wooden structure to hold them , the result is an exhibition that reflects not only the aesthetic range of the potters but also the deep sense of community and craftsmanship that supports it . Originally inspired by the 2017 exhibition at the Weisman Art Museum , WBCA's exhibit borrows both its name and spirit . Now in its 33rd year , the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour is among the most respected studio pottery events in the country . The tour draws thousands of visitors to seven host studios scattered across the St. Croix River Valley . But in the calm of a gallery setting , it takes on a new dimension . " The flow is about creating an environment similar to the outdoor experience of the annual pottery tour , but taking it indoors to a gallery setting , " WBCA Exhibitions Manager and show curator , Karna Holub , said . " With over 200 pieces , the challenge was how to elevate each collection as equally as possible . " Facing you as you enter the gallery , and impossible to ignore as it holds dozens of ceramic pieces , is a large wooden structure designed by WBCA Resident Artist and co- curator , Kyle Frederickson . Built from reclaimed wood , the structure anchors the exhibition both visually and symbolically , calling back to the tour's rustic aesthetic . " It will be amazing to see the work of this year's potters all displayed in one gallery , " said Linda Christensen , one of the tour's longtime potters and host . " As hosts , we are unable to get around to see the other studios , so this will be a great opportunity . " The spirit of pottery , Linda said , has deep roots in the St. Croix Valley . Pottery has been made in the region since the Oneota period , dating back to 900 A.D. Shell - tempered clay vessels were once shaped by hands along the same river banks where Christensen and her peers now work . The modern studio pottery movement here began in the 1950s , when Warren MacKenzie settled in the area . The rest of the eventual original pottery tour hosts , including Linda , followed , all arriving by the 1970s . Together , they built not only a thriving scene but a mission to give back . " It has been important for the tour to quietly foster pottery culture , " Linda said . " A Culture of Pots 2025 " channels that philosophy , showcasing the diversity in technique and aesthetic from the tour's artists . Some work in porcelain , others in stoneware or earthenware . Some fire with gas , others with wood . The unifying theme ? Usefulness . " There is no one aesthetic other than the concept of useful pottery , " Linda said . " All of the participants come with their own histories - some were trained in Photos By Morgan Pearson | Contributed apprenticeships , some in universities , some are self- taught . Some come from other mediums entirely . " The exhibition at WBCA reflects this , offering viewers more than just beautiful objects but an introduction to modern ceramics . Compared to the 1950s or 1970s when ceramicists had " minimal influence , " according to Linda , potters these days are exposed to everything digitally , so this exhibition will " tell a story of diversity of style , " she hinted . Karna had a similar request : " When you view each piece , keep in mind that this is one concept - to make a pot , vessel , or plate out of the same medium of clay , and from that concept over 200 interpretations have emerged through color , form , shape , and texture . " For her , the exhibition is also personal . " At WBCA , we have a rapidly growing clay program , " she said . " I've recently taken pottery classes , and immediately noticed a ' culture ' of potters in the studios . Support , encouragement , laughter , and loyalty are a few words that come to mind . I can only imagine that the potters from the St. Croix Pottery Tour also have that same sense of community . " That community is the thread that runs through everything in " A Culture of Pots 2025 , " connecting the creation of the first Oneota pots to the freshly - glazed mugs in the Tour . While the tour's open - air spontaneity can't be fully recreated indoors , the exhibition offers something new : A chance to slow down and connect with the hands that shaped each form . " A Culture of Pots 2025 " is on view through July 25 at White Bear Center for the Arts . For more information , visit whitebeararts.org .