dan wolbert    biography

Dan Wolbert was born and raised in Holland, Michigan. From a young age he discovered that he enjoyed learning how things worked. Those yearnings lead him to a life that involved tinkering with anything that struck his curiosity. He quickly mastered the art of disassembling objects and on occasion found that he could actually reassemble them to a working order.

Curious by nature he found he had a love for building and exploring materials and tools. In high school he worked as a ghost potter for a regionally recognized ceramist and began taking ceramics classes at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Dan attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Dan was fortunate to have been mentored by Ron Pederson, recent recipient of the International Sculpture Center Educator of the Year Award in 2009 and now the Chairman of the Art Department at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In the early 1980's the University of Minnesota offered Dan a full scholarship to participate in their Masters of Fine Arts Program. Dan accepted and moved to Minneapolis to begin his studies. A short time after his arrival, Dan's life took an unforeseen turn. Choosing to leave the program he ran a very successful business, served as the President of the Minnesota Sign Association, raised two children , taught Goldsmithing, designed an award winning paint scheme for a homebuilt airplane, acted as treasurer for a Gubernatorial campaign, and continues to volunteer with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program serving veterans.

Even with these accomplishments Dan never let his life's love of making sculpture die. Just as life made a sudden turn earlier in his life, it has again and Dan is returning to his art.

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