The Art of Connection: Rachael Pace’s Journey as the Creative Spirit of the North

In Ely, Minnesota, the edge of the wilderness often feels like the center of the world. Beneath its towering pines and along the quiet shores of its countless lakes, stories unfold—some etched into the bark of junipers, others written in the flight paths of migratory birds. Rachael Pace’s story, however, is told through linocuts, watercolors, and the intricate marks of a daily art practice.

Rachael Pace on a wilderness expedition.

This year, the Northern Lakes Arts Association has named Pace the 2025 recipient of the Creative Spirit of the North Award. This accolade honors artists who embody the resourceful, resilient, and deeply collaborative ethos of this region. It’s an honor that feels both inevitable and surprising, much like Pace’s own journey back to art.

Rachael's Creative Journey

For Pace, creativity has always been a companion. At times, it was a silent one. She recalls her early years spent in art classes, wielding pencils and brushes with abandon, only to let other pursuits take precedence. By the time she graduated college, her focus had shifted to wedding and event photography. This craft married her artistic eye with storytelling. However, it was a different kind of story—one written in the wilderness—that would later bring her back to art.

“I started leading wilderness expeditions in the Boundary Waters and Big Bend,” she says. Her voice carries the gentle cadence of someone who has spent time listening—to the wind, the water, and the stories of those around her. “In the backcountry, I didn’t have time or space for much beyond the essentials. But slowly, I found ways to reconnect—with a sketchbook, with my camera, with creativity itself.”

A Drawing by Rachael Pace.

The Wilderness as a Teacher

Her wilderness years offered lessons that now shape her artistic process. “When you’re on a long expedition, you learn to push through—weather, exhaustion, discomfort. Art has a similar rhythm. There’s always a messy middle, but you trust the process. You keep going.”

If the wilderness taught Pace resilience, it also provided her with a lexicon of inspiration. Her art is deeply rooted in place—deserts, forests, and the spaces in between. “The desert feels like home,” she says of Big Bend, where she worked for several years. “Its stark beauty, its openness—it’s grounding.”

The Boundary Waters, where she now lives year-round, required a more deliberate connection. “It didn’t come as naturally,” she admits. “I had to seek out ways to connect. Drawing helped—capturing the details of plants and birds, noticing the subtleties of this place.”

The Details Matter

Her work often focuses on those details: the sharp geometry of bunchberry leaves, the delicate curves of migrating herons, and the shifting hues of a single tree through the seasons. Each piece invites viewers to pause, to notice, and to reconnect with their environment.

The Creative Spirit of the North Award, established by the Northern Lakes Arts Association, recognizes artists whose work embodies the vitality of Ely and the North Country. It’s more than just a title; it’s an investment in creativity. Recipients receive a year-long studio space, opportunities to teach workshops, and a dedicated showcase at NLAA’s annual Members Gala.

A Drawing by Rachael Pace.

For Pace, this award is both recognition and a catalyst. “It’s a chance to deepen my practice, but also to explore how art can bring people together,” she says. One project she is particularly excited about is a community-printed quilt, which will invite participation from across Ely. “It’s about connection—between people, between ideas. That’s what art is for me.”

Balancing Control and Surrender

Pace’s artistic process is marked by a delicate balance between control and surrender. Her mediums—linocut, watercolor, digital drawing—offer different entry points into that tension. "Printmaking is full of surprises,” she explains, describing the moment when a carved block meets ink and paper. “You never know exactly how it’ll turn out. It’s a practice in letting go, which has been important for me as a recovering perfectionist.”

On the other hand, watercolors invite playfulness while digital drawing offers the safety of endless revisions. “Each medium teaches me something different,” she explains. “It’s less about what I’m expressing and more about what I’m exploring.”

Building Community Through Art

Ely’s art community has played a powerful role in Pace’s recent growth. Teaching and taking classes at the Ely Folk School, participating in NLAA markets, and showcasing her work at The Meadows have all provided opportunities for her to share her art and connect with others.

“The support here is incredible,” she states. “It’s motivated me to keep creating—not just for others, but for myself.”

That community spirit is woven into her vision for the future. Alongside her personal projects, Pace is eager to explore themes of interdependence and sustainability, using recycled materials and collaborative processes.

Inspiring Presence and Connection

What Pace hopes to inspire in others is simple: presence. “I want my work to help people notice the small details—the beauty of a bird in flight, the changing colors of a bunchberry leaf. Those moments of connection can shift how we see the world.”

As she steps into her role as the Creative Spirit of the North, Rachael Pace is not just creating art—she’s creating opportunities for connection, reflection, and community. In Ely, where the wilderness whispers its stories, her work feels like a fitting reply.

For updates on Rachael’s projects and the Creative Spirit of the North Award, visit the Northern Lakes Arts Association website. In a place where nature shapes life and art, it’s a story worth following.