Silversmithing photo by Tara Burns

WBCA In the News

Arts center founder’s passion takes her around the world

November 7, 2007

by Kristine Goodrich, White Bear Press

BIRCHWOOD — Polly Shank's peaceful afternoon painting the White Bear Boat Works building was interrupted by a truck and trailer.

"Just my luck, it parked right in front and blocked the whole building ... I had to pack up and go home," she said.

Despite many such unlucky incidents in her many decades of painting, Shank still insists on painting only from what she sees in-person.

She's an outdoors lover, painting from photographs is too restricting and painting still life is too boring, she said. So even frosty temperatures won't keep the hearty Minnesotan indoors — she bundles up and sets up her easel in the snow.

During an artist reception last Sunday, the White Bear Center for the Arts celebrated Shank's dedication to her art, and to promoting art opportunities in her community.
Breakout

Drawn to the then still remote lakeshore, Shank and her family came to Birchwood in 1951. The trolley, which had once transported fun-seekers to the Wildwood Amusement Park, ran between the lake and her now more than century-old farmhouse.

Around Birchwood, she's most famous for founding the city's Fourth of July parade. She also is one of the founding members of what was called the White Bear Arts Council back in 1968.

"We decided we needed to bring some art to the area," Shank said. "Art is a vital part of community."

For nearly 30 years, the group members helped teach art in the schools, sponsored a student writing contest and held exhibits at various locales. In 1996, the city of White Bear Lake donated two rooms in the former armory building and the arts council became the White Bear Center for the Arts.

"We finally had a headquarters, which meant we could do so much more," Shank said.

Today, the center has more than 400 individual and family members, offers more than 240 art classes each year, sponsors the renowned Northern Lights exhibit and holds many other community events.

Shank, who was the center's Volunteer of the Year in 2001, is a frequent pupil of classes offered at the Arts Center. Among her favorites are those taught by artist Frank Zeller, she said.

She also has enjoyed the many art sales and exhibit opportunities the center provides. They've helped her sell a few pieces, "just enough to buy more paints and brushes," she said. But more importantly, she said, the events provide an opportunity for fellowship among artists.

Board member Robert Cuerden is coordinating one of the center's new initiatives: permanent exhibits of rotating artists at the White Bear Lake Area Community Counseling Center and the local Dunn Brothers and Lifetime Fitness. Shank's work currently is on display at Lifetime.

"She's a phenomenal plein-air artist and such a vibrant life force," Cuerden said.

While the lake view from her backyard and other local sites are frequent subjects of her paintings, Shank's passion for art also has taken her around the world. She's taken dozens of trips with artist groups to paint Claude Monet's garden in France, the Volga River in Russia and other nature landmarks.

While she enjoys all forms of painting, her favorite is watercolor because of its volatility.

"You never know what's going to come out," she said.

"The results aren't so important," she added. "I just enjoy doing it."

Copyright © 2007 Press Publications. All rights reserved.

Plein-air artist Polly Shank was a founding member of the White Bear Center for the Arts.

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