Each day, the first thing that Winona State University students that enter Watkins Hall see is the Paul Watkins Gallery. The gallery has been home to many exhibits throughout its lifetime, and beginning on March 25, 2026, it has housed “Passage(s)”.
“Passage(s)” is a faculty exhibition being put on by Danilo Lj. Bojic, a professor of design at Winona State. After a sabbatical, professors are expected to present their research in some form. Bojic took a sabbatical in 2023, where he worked on a variety of projects, including his next phase of his grad school creative series titled “Passage(s)”. Now, his creative work and research are on display for students and faculty to interact with and learn from.
“This is ‘Passage(s)’ number four. I had my first [exhibit in the] ‘Passage(s)’ series, though it was called ‘Passage’ at that point, in 2012. Then there was another one in 2018 and there was a third in 2021 just after COVID,” Bojic said. “And now in 2026 we have the fourth version. So, it’s a culminative series. It’s developing over time and expanding over time, because it’s tightly connected to my personal experience over the years. The idea is to explore memory and what makes us, us… the people, the experiences, good and bad”
Upon entering the gallery, viewers will see chronological markers from 1 to 42 that create a path in which to view the exhibit. The numbers, Bojic explained, represent each year of his life. In addition to the numbers, the walls are covered with words, both positive and negative. The words are then visually linked between years of life with different colors of string that are strung across the ceiling of the gallery. Viewers are encouraged to take a Post-it note from the beginning of the exhibit to anonymously write a word or memory that is connected to a year in their life and put the paper underneath the corresponding number.
Naturally, putting the exhibit together took a lot of work, both behind the scenes and in the physical space. Bojic was the sole creator of the content in the exhibit but attributed the beauty of the put-together gallery to the help of his students.
“I’m very grateful I had three students who were helping me. They were Natalii Kramer, Allison Buck and Kira Kainz,” Bojic said. “These three individuals were amazing, because without them, I don’t think the exhibit would be up.”
Kira Kainz, a senior design student and one of the students who assisted Bojic, felt that the time she spent helping Bojic set up his exhibit was just as valuable for her. As she prepares to present her own exhibit for her senior showcase, Kainz appreciated the opportunity to get a feel for what the process is like.
“[After helping Danilo,] I can pretty effectively problem solve with the senior design show that I’m working on currently,” Kainz said. “Being able to think quickly when it comes to an exhibition design was helpful and I’m sure that’ll help me as I go into installing my own exhibition.”
Bojic’s exhibition is a demonstration of creative expression, personal narration, and storytelling shown through a timeline that represents both Bojic and each viewer of the work.
Passage(s) will be open until April 15 in the Paul Watkins Gallery located in Watkins Hall. A closing reception will be held in the same place on April 15 at 4:30pm, where Bojic will discuss the exhibition, answer questions, and network with audience members.
