Don Knudson and Marlon Davidson collaborations began after a summer trip to the south shore of Lake Superior. The artists had spent a day on the beach picking up small pieces of driftwood, feathers, and stones. They carried the items back to their studio then at Hand Lake. Don had been constructing a box-like wall sculpture with doors that opened a little like those on a church. The inside was empty. Without a lot of forethought, Marlon began to lay some of the found objects from the beach into the box. Their relationship, both as artists and as life partners, spans over 50 years. They now operate Donmar Studio out of their home in Bemidji.

In conjunction with Bemidji’s First Friday Artwalk Sept 6,  Marlon Davidson and Don Knudson, Shop 505’s September Featured Artists, join up for a two day “Meet and Greet” event at the Watermark. From 5-7 pm on Friday September 6 and 10:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday September 7, you will have the opportunity to learn about their process, talk to the artists and view an extensive collection of work. Shop 505 will add several more pieces for sale in September in addition to current artwork.

Their collaborations are in collections across the country in public spaces and also in private homes.  They vary in size from a few inches to several feet in width and height. The artists have been working together for decades after long careers producing their own work while they were living in the Twin Cities. During that period of time Marlon was a public school teacher and during the last ten years of his teaching career, was an instructor in the Visual Arts Department at Bemidji State University. Don’s working career has been devoted to wood sculpture and handmade furniture. He has also been a journeyman window display artist, a map maker, a carpenter and with Marlon, he owned and operated a Bed and Breakfast, “Meadowgrove,” near Bemidji. Their relationship, both as artists and as life partners, spans over 50 years.