Jewelry and wildlife unite - Minot Daily News
Ashton Gerard/MDN Andy Knudson brought many pieces to Minot with him when he was in town for the Sports Show earlier in March. The work is being displayed and sold at Lien’s Jewelry, located at 107 S. Main Street.
When living in North Dakota, it’s hard not to get into Western culture – hard working cowboys, rodeo, wildlife and the wide open spaces the state has. Andy Knudson uses his gift in art to bring these themes to life, and is now displaying art at Lien’s Jewelry in downtown Minot.
Lien’s Jewelry has had a passion for getting involved in the community and supporting the local art scene, according to Sheri Lien. Displaying Knudson’s art in store not only helps the Liens, but it also brings Knudson’s art back to where it all began.
Knudson was born and raised in Minot and has always had a talent for painting and drawing.
“It’s something I was always good at as a kid,” Knudson said about pursuing art. “I was always encouraged by my friends and family do artwork.”
The cowboy lifestyle is something Knudson personally knows. Growing up, his family always had horses and Knudson was a rodeo cowboy himself.
Ashton Gerard/MDN This piece is one the Liens commissioned of their daughter, Taylor Lien, from Andy Knudson. A lot of the work Knudson does is from commissions.
“I’ve always been attracted to that Western lifestyle,” he said. “It’s what I know, it’s what I do best.”
Knudson opened a studio/gallery in the old Woolworth building on Central Avenue in 1993 after he graduated college.
He then spent 20 years in Towner and most recently moved to Scandia, Minn., where he currently has his studio/gallery Plains Perspective, while also maintaining a studio at Lake Audubon. Even though he’s not based in North Dakota anymore, Knudson said most of his business still comes from the state, which he appreciates.
Lien remembered their spaces were next to each other and the Lien’s frequently ran into Knudson around town.
“He’s pretty well known, especially for his painting on turkey feathers,” Lien said. “He does a lot of custom stuff for people too.”
Lien has commissioned Knudson for work herself, including a huge canvas that has been hanging in the store since September 2017. The piece is of her daughter, Taylor Lien, and her two horses. It’s something Sheri Lien said was delivered to the store, was meant for their home, but ended up staying in the store anyways.
Constantly getting questions from customers about the original piece is one of the reasons Lien was interested in showcasing some of Knudson’s work in the store. Knudson also needed the space as well.
“I recently lost gallery space in Home Sweet Home and was looking for another gallery space in Minot,” Knudson explained about how the collaboration started.
Lien figured having Knudson’s art in the store would be mutually beneficial, as it provided Knudson with another Minot gallery space and the Liens with another draw to the jewelry store for customers.
All of the art displayed in the store, besides the commissioned piece for the Liens, are for sale and will be available at the store indefinitely.
As time progresses, the artwork will get replenished and be switched out with fresh pieces as the current stock leaves with happy customers.
“It gives us something else to offer to our customers,” Lien said. “Not everybody always wants jewelry and it kind of goes well with the clocks that we have.”
The artwork is another draw for the store and it will be a way for Knudson to show his work and connect with North Dakotans and Minoters without physically being in Minot year-round.
Lien’s has been working with Artmain downtown to have their store added to the Creative Night Out to showcase Knudson’s work as a part of the studio tour that takes place over the summer.
It’ll also be another draw for the Magic City Market event that will, potentially, be taking place one Saturday a month as well.
Knudson maintains his presence in the North Dakota art scene by habitually participating in the Pride of Dakota shows, having a booth at the North Dakota State Fair and the annual Sports Show. Knudson did a piece for the Pheasants for the Future banquet earlier this month.
To contact Knudson for custom artworks, he can be reached by email at andrewknudson@hotmail.com. He also has an Etsy shop with available pieces at etsy.com/shop/PlainsPerspective, as well as his own website, plainsperspective.com.
To see Knudson’s work in person, visit Fred and Sheri Lien at Lien’s Jewelry, 107 S. Main Street in downtown Minot.
