Art in Community 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 paintings that incorporate soil and natural elements from places in Minnesota and beyond to explore the impact our environment has on our health and well-being The works, hung in White Bear Center f ter for the Arts Community Hallway, are watercolor paintings with pigments of pink and green shining through. As a watercolor artist and teacher When the Earth Sings Artist Brianna Harrington hang a piece of artwork in her exhibition "Soil Song and the natural world. "The work focuses on the landscape always been interested in at WBCA, much of Brianna's trying to take better care of people and the planet," she says. So as she continued on her artistic journey, she found herself naturally drawn to gathering pebbles to use in her paintings, and, after testing the soil of her garden, she read studies that said soil makes sounds when it's healthy So what is this connection between soil and sound? Ecoacoustics, which studies an ecosystem's soundscape, offers insight into soil health. Think of it as a garden party: healthy soil features rich soundscapes made by insects and microbes moving through the soil. The soil is much quieter in degraded soils which lack life forms essential for soil productivity and ecosystem balance. In her artist statement. Brianna argues that this balance contributes to the human health cycle by impacting the nutrients in our food supply and influencing our immunity and gut health. Unfortunately, soil health is declining due in part to human impact. Her goal is getting people to care. "The beautiful thing is recognizing that our environments really impact us," she says. When people realize how their environment affects them, they're more willing to interact with their environment with intention. You can see "Soil Song" in WBCA Community Hallway on view until January 6, 2025 as part of a series highlighting the artistry of WBCA's teaching artists. Stretching the Imagination: A New Experience in the Ford Family Gallery Shaila Cunningham Galleries have histori- cally been thought of as neutral spaces to observe art, designed to present works in a controlled environment that invites intellectual reflection. Now, White Bear Center for the Arts is bringing back a differ ent way to engage with art: through mind and body. This December, the art center invites you to elevate your midday break with Yoga in the Gallery, a five-week yoga series taught by Shaila Cunningham against the backdrop of the Members' Exhibition in the Ford Family Gallery: Shaila's origins as a yoga teacher began in the 90s when she lived in Singapore. Taking classes in a traditional yoga class with a teacher who was a Zen Buddhist in Singapore was a very different experience from the yoga culture in the United States, so when she made the move back to Massachusetts, she wanted Upcoming Avenue of the Arts Events: Members' Exhibition Community Reception White Bear Center for the Arts December 5, 3:30-8:30 PM All are welcome to come celebrate WBCA members to bridge the two. Shaila began studying under a Swami or Yoga Master at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and finished her teacher training before she moved back to teach in Minnesota in 2001. About a decade ago, WBCA approached Shaila about teaching in their space. "What a great and un- usual opportunity, she thought of teaching in an art center. "I wanted to be around these creative people open to that mindset" Shaila insists that her teaching style was influenced by being surrounded by art classes at WBCA. "It's like if you were in a still life class, the teacher would be walking around working with students individually. If you were to look over the shoulder of those students, you would see all different interpretations of the same thing-that's how a real yoga class should run." Being in the gallery surrounded by art enhances the practice, making it the ideal setting to boost your energy and mood. "There's a reason why Zen temples have rock gardens and are built around serene nature," Shaila says. "Meditation works from the outside in." So in a space where artwork has historically been expe- rienced on a very cerebral level, inviting in yoga and at this open house reception. Pop in to view the Members' Exhibition on display in the Ford Family Gallery, visit with artists, listen to live music, and have fan-welcome remarks at 4:30 and 7:00 PM. Writer's Speak: An Open Mic Night for the Community White Bear Center for the Arts December 12, 4:30-6:30 PM All are welcome to join your fellow writers and the White Bear Lake community for an open mic night. Shaila performs a handstand in front of White Bear Center for the arts about 10 years ago when she first taught yoga at WBCL meditation helps blur the lines so you can experience the creativity of fellow community members more somatically, You can join WBCA for Yoga in the Gallery on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:15 PM starting December 3, 2024-January 14, 2025. Register at WhiteBearArts.org. Share your latest work, test new ideas, or simply soak in the words around you. Bring an original piece to read that is under 5 minutes. Please register online at WhiteBearArts.org A Christmas Carol The Hanif Performing Arts Center November 22-December 17 The holiday classic returns to Lakeshore for the first time in 60 years with our own charming adaptation. Holiday fun for the whole family! Art in Community 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 paintings that incorporate soil and natural elements from places in Minnesota and beyond to explore the impact our environment has on our health and well - being The works , hung in White Bear Center f ter for the Arts Community Hallway , are watercolor paintings with pigments of pink and green shining through . As a watercolor artist and teacher When the Earth Sings Artist Brianna Harrington hang a piece of artwork in her exhibition " Soil Song and the natural world . " The work focuses on the landscape always been interested in at WBCA , much of Brianna's trying to take better care of people and the planet , " she says . So as she continued on her artistic journey , she found herself naturally drawn to gathering pebbles to use in her paintings , and , after testing the soil of her garden , she read studies that said soil makes sounds when it's healthy So what is this connection between soil and sound ? Ecoacoustics , which studies an ecosystem's soundscape , offers insight into soil health . Think of it as a garden party : healthy soil features rich soundscapes made by insects and microbes moving through the soil . The soil is much quieter in degraded soils which lack life forms essential for soil productivity and ecosystem balance . In her artist statement . Brianna argues that this balance contributes to the human health cycle by impacting the nutrients in our food supply and influencing our immunity and gut health . Unfortunately , soil health is declining due in part to human impact . Her goal is getting people to care . " The beautiful thing is recognizing that our environments really impact us , " she says . When people realize how their environment affects them , they're more willing to interact with their environment with intention . You can see " Soil Song " in WBCA Community Hallway on view until January 6 , 2025 as part of a series highlighting the artistry of WBCA's teaching artists . Stretching the Imagination : A New Experience in the Ford Family Gallery Shaila Cunningham Galleries have histori- cally been thought of as neutral spaces to observe art , designed to present works in a controlled environment that invites intellectual reflection . Now , White Bear Center for the Arts is bringing back a differ ent way to engage with art : through mind and body . This December , the art center invites you to elevate your midday break with Yoga in the Gallery , a five - week yoga series taught by Shaila Cunningham against the backdrop of the Members ' Exhibition in the Ford Family Gallery : Shaila's origins as a yoga teacher began in the 90s when she lived in Singapore . Taking classes in a traditional yoga class with a teacher who was a Zen Buddhist in Singapore was a very different experience from the yoga culture in the United States , so when she made the move back to Massachusetts , she wanted Upcoming Avenue of the Arts Events : Members ' Exhibition Community Reception White Bear Center for the Arts December 5 , 3 : 30-8 : 30 PM All are welcome to come celebrate WBCA members to bridge the two . Shaila began studying under a Swami or Yoga Master at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and finished her teacher training before she moved back to teach in Minnesota in 2001 . About a decade ago , WBCA approached Shaila about teaching in their space . " What a great and un- usual opportunity , she thought of teaching in an art center . " I wanted to be around these creative people open to that mindset " Shaila insists that her teaching style was influenced by being surrounded by art classes at WBCA . " It's like if you were in a still life class , the teacher would be walking around working with students individually . If you were to look over the shoulder of those students , you would see all different interpretations of the same thing - that's how a real yoga class should run . " Being in the gallery surrounded by art enhances the practice , making it the ideal setting to boost your energy and mood . " There's a reason why Zen temples have rock gardens and are built around serene nature , " Shaila says . " Meditation works from the outside in . " So in a space where artwork has historically been expe- rienced on a very cerebral level , inviting in yoga and at this open house reception . Pop in to view the Members ' Exhibition on display in the Ford Family Gallery , visit with artists , listen to live music , and have fan - welcome remarks at 4:30 and 7:00 PM . Writer's Speak : An Open Mic Night for the Community White Bear Center for the Arts December 12 , 4 : 30-6 : 30 PM All are welcome to join your fellow writers and the White Bear Lake community for an open mic night . Shaila performs a handstand in front of White Bear Center for the arts about 10 years ago when she first taught yoga at WBCL meditation helps blur the lines so you can experience the creativity of fellow community members more somatically , You can join WBCA for Yoga in the Gallery on Tuesdays from 12 : 00-1 : 15 PM starting December 3 , 2024 - January 14 , 2025. Register at WhiteBearArts.org . Share your latest work , test new ideas , or simply soak in the words around you . Bring an original piece to read that is under 5 minutes . Please register online at WhiteBearArts.org A Christmas Carol The Hanif Performing Arts Center November 22 - December 17 The holiday classic returns to Lakeshore for the first time in 60 years with our own charming adaptation . Holiday fun for the whole family !