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.

Rebecca Davis & Roger Asay

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 AND SOLITUDE
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 CULTUREFEAST
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 Chule Gallery
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 (Four person)

Obsidian Gallery
Tucson AZ, 1994 (Four person)

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.

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