COLLABORATIVE ARTISTS
Our work draws upon the raw matter of nature. We seek to do just enough to it to bring out its essence, to let it speak for itself. The work is very much about the material; it is the subject of our work, presented unencumbered to create a direct and pure visual experience.
For years we have spent time together wandering through wild parts of the American Southwest. We have climbed its rocks, run our fingers through its sands, and explored its vast array of environments large and small. Nature has always influenced our art and we work with almost ritual respect at discovering its elements.
On this artistic journey, we have learned to know ourselves through a union with all that connects life on Earth, to step into the patterns of nature that have flowed through a millennium of time, to witness with open eyes the beauty and power of life. These are the inspirations that lead to who we are and the work we do as artists.
A HISTORY
Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis have been working as collaborative artists since 1983 on a body of work they call WOOD AND STONE; SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT. These art pieces are made from stone, river sediments, branches, or sticks. From its early beginnings these sculptures took on a minimal art format that arose from the desire to let the material used be the subject and focus of the sculpture.
As artists living in the vibrant landscapes of the western and southwestern US they were intimately drawn to the significance and richness of the natural world around them. Independently, both artists had already begun working with natural materials to create sculpture in the early 1970’s (moving away from hard edged stripe painting in Asay’s case.) In their time, these works were shockingly different from the world of art around them; very raw, very direct, reaching for a basic human connectedness to earth.
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT
Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Roswell NM
Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
ASU Art Museum, Tempe, AZ
Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale AZ
Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, NM
Gallery 409, The Residency Collection, Roswell, NM
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ
Museum of Albuquerque, NM
University of New Mexico Museum of Art, Albuquerque, NM
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix AZ
City of Phoenix, AZ
City of Tucson, AZ
Town of Cottonwood, AZ
Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, AZ
City of Prescott, AZ
Yavapai College Sculpture Garden, Prescott
Margaret T. Morris Center, Prescott, AZ
Numerous private collections
GRANTS
Playa at Summer Lake, OR, Two week Residency, 2014
Chatauqua Arts Festival, Colorado Council on the Arts and Humanities, Art workshops and performances to rural Colorado communities. 1979.
Artist in Residence, Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, NM, 6 months, 1976.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Natural History Institute, Prescott AZ, 2018
Dairy Art Center, Boulder CO, 2018
Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse, Prescott AZ, 2016
Earlham College Art Gallery, Richmond IND, 2014
Larsen Gallery, Scottsdale AZ, 2012
Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse, Prescott AZ, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Art, main gallery, Mesa AZ, 2011
Yavapai College Art Gallery, Prescott AZ, 2006
Gallery Materia, Scottsdale AZ, 2001, and 2002
Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell NM, 1998
Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale AZ, 1997
Tucson Museum of Art, Stonewall Exhibit, Tucson AZ, 1995
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix AZ, 1993
Yavapai College Arts Gallery, Prescott AZ, 1992
Etherton Stern Gallery, Tucson AZ, 1992
Prescott Fine Art Center, Prescott AZ, 1983, 1987, 1990
Tempe art Center, Tempe AZ, “Salt River Dinner Party”, 1988
University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson AZ, 1987
Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff AZ, 1985
GROUP SHOWS
SKY HARBOR AIRPORT ARTS COLLECTION
Sky Harbor Airport
Phoenix AZ, 2018-19
RAIR 50th
Roswell Museum and Art Center
Roswell NM, 2017-18
SEDIMENTS, SEQUENCES
Umpqua Valley Arts
Roseburg OR, 2016
CONVERSATIONS WITH WOOD
Yale University Art Gallery
2013
NATURE CONSERVANCY: WOOD
Scottsdale AZ, 2013
ARIZONA LANDSCAPES
Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe AZ, 2012
BIENNIAL: WOOD
Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe AZ, 2012
LUV’N AZ’S BEAUTY
Sky Harbor Airport Museum
Phoenix AZ, 2012
CONVERSATIONS WITH WOOD
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis MN, 2011
BEAUTY OF WOOD
Signature Gallery
Atlanta GA, 2010
RE-IMAGING THE WEST
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale AZ, 2010
ON ENVIRONMENT
City of Tempe public spaces
Tempe AZ, 2009
FACULTY EXHIBITION
Prescott College Art Gallery
Prescott AZ, 2009
BEYOND A GIFT OF TIME
Roswell Museum and Art Center
Roswell NM, 2008
SMITHSONIAN
Studio Tour
Prescott AZ, 2006
GRAND CANYON
Tucson Museum of Art
Tucson AZ, 2006
SOFA NY
NYC Amory, with Gallery Materia
2000, 2001, 2003
SOFA CHICAGO
Navy Pier, with Gallery Materia
2000 and 2001
CARVED IN STONE
Tohono
Tucson AZ, 2000
GROUNDSWELL
Austin Museum of Art
Austin TX, 1999
ARIZONA SCULPTURE
Tempe Arts Center
Tempe AZ, 1997
THE GREAT SAGUARO
Sonoran Desert Museum
Tucson AZ, 1996
WOOD WORKS
AZ Museum for Youth
Mesa AZ, 1996
The Hand and the Spirit Gallery
Scottsdale AZ, 1993, 1995 (
Obsidian Gallery
Tucson AZ, 1994 (
NEW MYTHS FROM ANCIENT WAYS
Coconino Center
Flagstaff AZ, 1994
ARIZONA BIENNIAL
Tucson Art Museum
Tucson AZ, 1993 (Award)
LOCAL COLOR
Prescott Fine Arts
Prescott AZ, 1990, 91, 92, 93, 96
SCULPTURE AND TAPESTRY
Yavapai College
Prescott AZ, 1989
EARTH VIEWS
Galleria Mesa
Mesa AZ, 1989
OUTDOOR SCULPTURE
Tempe Fine Arts Center
Tempe AZ, 1987
OUTDOOR SCULPTURE
Tucson Pima Arts Council
Downtown, Tucson AZ, 1987
SCULPTURE
Yuma Center for the Arts
Yuma AZ, 1987
OUTDOOR SCULPTURE
Tucson Art Institute
Tucson AZ, 1985
PHOENIX BIENNIAL
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix AZ, 1985
WINDOW TO THE FUTURE
Suzanne Brown Gallery
Scottsdale AZ, 1983
BEFORE AND BEYOND COLLABORATION
Learn more about Roger and Rebecca and work outside of their collaboration.
