Suzan Muhanna/Winonan

McKnight artist Mika Negishi Laidlaw did not let her grandfather’s death get in the way of her art. Instead, she used it as inspiration.

“My grandpa influenced many of my new artwork pieces,” Laidlaw said.

After he passed away, Laidlaw started to concentrate on how his death impacted her family and the meaning in life in general.

Laidlaw’s work is part of the McKnight Artists exhibit, which is on loan at Winona State University from the Northern Clay Center.

The Northern Clay Center is an organization that works towards enhancing Minnesota’s artistic community.

The center offers fellowships and residencies, as well as other programs for artists.

Seven artists appear in this exhibit, including Laidlaw, Gerard Justin Ferrari, William Cravis, and Rina Hongo. Displays of sculptures, paintings, and collages light up the Paul Watkins Gallery.

Many of the artists have series of their artwork displayed, instead of multiple singular pieces.

Laidlaw, a specialist in craft media and pottery, has a three-part series of art sculptures in the show. Starting off with Birth, then moving on to Rebirth and ending with the Circle Of Life, the sculptures are blossoming flowers representing life.

The pieces connect to the story of the Buddha. As each piece is introduced, more color is added to the pieces.

This series is brand new, and it still does not make complete sense to Laidlaw yet, she said.

Ferrari, another artist, features his Poisoned Cocoon series in the exhibit, which was inspired by the birth of his son and the natural father instinct to protect him. The cocoon is a metaphor for a parent.

Laidlaw hopes people can approach her work and gain something from it. “I try to reach people who know art history and appreciate it,” she said.

The exhibit will be open until Dec. 5.

Contact Suzan at [email protected]