W  O  O  D  S    D  A  V  Y

WOODS DAVY AT JOEL COONER GALLERY

For the past twenty-five years, Woods Davy has worked with natural elements, usually incorporating various types of stone in fluid balancing acts that reflect the artist’s “Western Zen” sensibility.  He might be thought of as among the first “green” Postmodern artists. 

In fact, he comes from a long tradition of post 60s artists, who either directly or just by their practical sensibility, engage Eastern or Zen notions of oneness with nature, organic systems of change as engines of art composition, and non-disruptive respect for natural material in unaltered states.

The works comprising “Las Rocas” manage this, as they illuminate the poetry of nature.  As Holly Meyers observed in a previous exhibition, there is “something thrilling about a work that appears to defy its own natural properties,” while at the same time one can appreciate the work’s “meditative reverence.”
 

WOODS DAVY -  STATEMENT

Since the early 1980s, I have worked with natural form, predominately large stone elements of rounded organic shape.  Originally, I used these forms in combination with man-made steel structures; now I use the stones on their own, stacked or floating in space. 

The rough granite sculptures reference underwater landscapes that have been formed by the ocean’s chaotic currents.  Each granite element is pulled from the earth, the shimmer of its pitted surface revealing its geologic evolution.  There is a sense of collaboration with nature, where the physical characteristics of each stone determine its relationship to the next.  I find the process of building these sculptures to be very instinctive and exciting, without preconceived notions of arrangement or structure.    

The work from the Cantamar series evokes a feeling of serenity.  Smooth, water-worn stones are suspended in gravity defying weightlessness, denying their identity, and creating complex, cantilevered projections that appear to float like clouds.  I gather these stones at low tide in coastal Mexico, where their shapes and textures have been formed by the Pacific Ocean. 

I constantly feel compelled to contemplate the balance and tension, calm and energy that coexist in this body of work. 

BIO

BORN:   October 6, 1949, Washington, DC

EDUCATION:

1975           
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, MFA

1972           
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, BFA (Morehead Scholar)

1968           
St. Albans School, Washington, DC

SELECTED LARGE-SCALE COMMISSIONS:

2007
Tower Medical, Beverly Hills, CA

2000
Media Studios, Burbank, CA
City of Hope, Duarte, CA

1998-9
Lewis Business Center, Prudential Real Estate Van Nuys, CA

1997
Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

1996
California State University, Long Beach, CA

1995
Sterling Research Group, Kodak Corp., Philadelphia, PA

1994
Xerox Corporation, New York, NY

1993
Neutrogena Corporation, Los Angeles, CA

1991
Carnation Corporation, Glendale, CA

1990 
Sookie Goldman Nature Center, W.O.D.O.C., Bev. Hills, CA

1993 
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

1987 
IBM, Federal Facility, Gaithersberg, MD
Cranston Securities, Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA

1986
Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., Palm Springs, CA
California Arts Council, DMV, Arleta, CA
Highland Resources, Inc., East Camden, AK

1985
Metropolitan Life Insurance, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Siena Park, Boulder, CO
Brushy Creek National Bank, Round Rock, TX
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Harvard School, Woodland Hills, CA

1984
Otis Art Institute, McArthur Park Public Arts Prog., L.A. CA
Highland Joint Venture, Austin, TX
Highland Resources, Inc., Houston, TX

1981
Little Tokyo Towers, Los Angeles, CA SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (permanent col.) Los Angeles, CA
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
Grunwald Art Center, Armand Hammer Mus. of Art, Los Angeles, CA
San Diego Museum of Art, La Jolla, CA
Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA
Frederic R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine Univ., Malibu, CA
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
University Art Museum, CSU, Long Beach, CA
Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA
State of California
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, CA
Security Pacific National Bank, Los Angeles, CA
Houston’s Inc., Phoenix, AZ and New York, NY
ARCO, Los Angeles, CA
United Bank, Houston, TX
American Film Institute, Los Angeles, CA
California State University, Fullerton, CA
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID
 

GALLERY REPRESENTATION:

Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
Gebert Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ
Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2008
OK Harris Works of Art, New York, NY
Gebert Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ

2007
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2006
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2005
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ

2004
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2003
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2002
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA

2001
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA

2000
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
Ochi Fine Art, Ketchum, ID

1998
Jan Abrams Fine Art, NY
Gallery at 777, Los Angeles, CA

1996
Jan Abrams Fine Art, NY

1995
Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1994
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA

1993
Gallery DeRoche, San Francisco, CA

1992
Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC

1991
Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA

1990
Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA

1989
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA

1988
Valerie Miller Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA

1987
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

1986
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
Desert Plaza, Palm Springs, CA 1985           
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Houston, TX
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA

1984
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Houston, TX
New Public Art, Otis Parsons, Los Angeles, CA

1983
Hunsaker/Schlesinger & Associates, Los Angeles, CA

1982
Los Angeles City Hall, Spring Street Court & Rotunda

1981
Neil G. Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1980
Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
William Sawyer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA

1979
Union Station, Los Angeles, CA


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2007
Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV
Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID

2006 
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

2005
Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2004
Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2003

Frederic R. Weisman Museum of Art, Malibu, CA
Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Runyon Fine Art, Dallas, TX
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA

2002

Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Museum of Outdoor Sculpture, Denver, CO

2001
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA

1999
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA

1998
“Outdoor Sculpture Invitational,”Barat College, Evanston,IL
Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
“Pier Walk ‘98,” Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL

1997  
“Pier Walk ‘97,” Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL
Jan Abrams Fine Art, New York, NY

1996 
“Pier Walk ‘96,” Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
LACMA, Los Angeles, CA

1995
Jan Abrams Fine Art, New York, NY
Joy Tash Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

1994
MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
Sculpture Space, Washington, DC
Jan Abrams Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA 1993          
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA

1992
Marcia Simon Weisman Gallery, Cedars-Sinai Hospital,
Los Angeles, CA

1991 
Fleck/Ellman Gallery, Aspen, CO
Dennis Vaughn Gallery, Aspen, CO
“Natural Forces,” LAX, Los Angeles, CA

1990
MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC

1989
Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
“Art in the Parks,” Beverly Hills, CA

1988
“Art in Public Spaces,” National Traveling Exhibition
“Art in Public Buildings,” California Arts Council,
California State University, Fresno, CA

1987
“Los Angeles Public Art,” Fine Arts Building, CA
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

1986
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
Sybil Larney Gallery, Chicago

1985 
“Monuments To,” University Art Museum,
California State University, Long Beach, CA

1984
Otis Parsons Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Cirrus Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA
Koplin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1983
“Urban Sculpture,” Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
“The Nancy Yewell Collection,” Baxter Art Gallery, Pasadena, CA
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA

1982           
“Downtown Los Angeles,” WAAM/The Art Museum
Association, Traveling Exhibition:  Madison Art Center, WI;
UC, San Diego, CA; Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Cristi; San Francisco Museum of Art, CA; DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA; Denver Art Museum, CO
“Forgotten Dimension...A Survey of Small Sculpture in
California Now,” Fresno Arts Center, Fresno, CA,
Traveling Exhibition
“Architectural References,” Gensler & Associates, LA, CA
Baxter Art Gallery, CALTECH, Pasadena, CA

1981
Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA
Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles, CA
Neil G. Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1980
Kirk de Gooyer Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
“Sculpture ‘80,” Maryland Art Institute, Baltimore, MD
“Six Los Angeles Sculptors,” Federal Reserve Board, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank, Los Angeles, CA
Protech/McIntosh Gallery, Washington, DC
Mittendorf Lane Gallery, Washington, DC
“Downtown Los Angeles in Santa Barbara,” Santa
Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
Stage One Gallery, Orange, CA
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA

1979
“LAX 814,” Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA
Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA), CA

1978
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA

1977 
“Introductions ‘77,” William Sawyer Gallery, San Francisco
“Art in Public Places,” City Hall, Los Angeles, CA

1976
Mid-Continental Plaza, Chicago, IL
Del Mar College, Corpus Cristi, TX
Ball State University, Muncie, IN

1975
First Federal Savings and Loan, Chicago, IL
“Sculpture 1975,” Traveling Exhibition

1974           
Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Evansville, IN

1972 
North Carolina State Museum, Raleigh, NC
 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

2007
Webb, Michael:  “Venice, CA, Art + Architecture in a Maverick Community

2003
Riquelme, Kathleen:  “The Studio Book”

2004
Nys Dambrot, Shana:  “Evidence of Formation,” catalog essay

2003  
Myers, Holly:  Gallery reviews - “Granite and stones that defy
gravity,” Los Angeles Times, March 28
Zimmerer, Kathy:   “Woods Davy:  Las Piedras,” catalogue essy

2000
Zimmerer, Kathy:  feature art review, Art Scene, Feb.

1999  
“Artist and Works,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 6

1998 
Gibson, Sheila J.:  “Rock Star,” The Robb Report, Feb.

1997
“Gordon Davidson Residence,” Architectural Digest, (photo)

1994
Saville, Jonathan:  “African Genesis, from a Sculptor’s Point
of View,” San Diego Reader, Jan 20

1993
Heeger, Susan:  “Desert Dreamer,” (Greenberg residence);
Garden Design, Nov/Dec

1999
Pittel, Christine:  “LA High Life,” (Schlesinger residence);
Elle Decor, Nov

1990
Berland, Dinah: “Spirit of Southland in Two Sculptor’s Works,”; Long Beach Press Telegram, May 26
Clark, Orville O.:  art review, Southern California House & Garden, July
Michaels, Donna:  “Stone Sculpture,” Art Talk, Jan, cover story

1989
Pincus, Robert:  art review, San Diego Union-Tribune

1988
Glenn, Constance: “Home is Where the Art Is,”Angeles, Sept
Latempa, Susan:  A Walk on the Art Side,” L.A. Style, May

1987
McKenna, Kristine:  art review; Los Angeles Times, Mar 27

1986
Lewis, Jo Ann:  “Woods Davy’s Sculptures,” Washington
Post, Feb
Sculpture Garden - Woods Davy (catalog); DeBartolo Corp.

1985
Muchnic, Suzanne:  art review, Los Angeles Times, April 26
Brumberg, Dan:  “Making Art Work,” Club Ties, Mar
Sinasky, Debra:  “Art Abounds in Little Tokyo,” The Contemporary (MOCA), Summer
Everingham, Carol J.: “Critic’s Choice,” (art review) The Houston Post, May 3
Winckler, Suzanne:  “Elysian Fields,” Houston Home and Garden, Oct
Flanagan, Barbara:  “The Battle of MacArthur Park,” Artnews, March
Talk of Texas - Sculpture:  Woods Davy and Jesus Moroles; Ultra, March

1984
Wilson, William:  “MacArthur Park to Get Public Arts Program,” Los Angeles Times, Oct 8
Pincus, Robert:  Woods Davy - New Public Art, catalog
Nodal, Al:  MacArthur Park Public Places Program, catalog
Designers West:  “Los Angeles:  Woods Davy Sculpture Installed at Otis Parsons,” Oct
Filler, Martin:  “Quinn Essential,” House & Garden, Dec

1983
Wilson, William:  art review, Los Angeles Times, Nov 8
Pincus, Robert:  The Galleries, Los Angeles Times, Sep 2
“State of the Arts,” Los Angeles Times, May 15
Clark, Orville O.:  “Woods Davy at Hunsaker/Schlesinger,” Images & Issues, Jan/Feb

1982
Wilson, William:  “Sculptor Takes Government Seat,”  Los Angeles Times, Dec 4
Taylor, Ruth Ashton:  interview, CBS, Nov 19
KPFK interview, Nov 18
Smith, Michael:  “Of No Particular Theme,” Baxter Art Gallery, Cal Tech, catalog

1981
Wortz, Melinda:  Exhibition Review, Artnews, Dec
Wilson, William:  “How Real is the Downtown Phenom enon?” Los Angeles Times, Sep 20
Moreland, Pamela:  “Investing in Art,” Calif. State Bar Journal, Nov
Muchnic, Suzanne:  “The City as At Center,” Los Angeles Times, Sep 20
Wilson, William:  “Art,” Los Angeles Times, Dec 27
Garver, Thomas:  Downtown Los Angeles, catalog, traveling exhibition
Muchnic, Suzanne:  “Davy Sculpture:  Form in Flux,” Los Angeles Times, April 30
Hopps, Walter:  “Six LA Sculptors,” Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC
Hopkins, Henry:  “Six LA Sculptors,” Fed. Reserve Board  
Knight, Christopher:  “Sculpture Proposals for Downtown Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Dec
Hugo, Joan:  “Woods Davy Sculpture,” Security Pacific Bank, catalog

1979
Erickson, Laurel:  “Downtown LA Artist,” NBC News
Special Report, Sep 26
Muchnic, Suzanne:  “Public Art, Public Problems,” Artweek, May 5
Hugo, Joan:  “Six Downtown Sculptors,” Artweek, Apr 21
Muchnic, Suzanne:  “A Train of Thought at Union Station,”
Los Angeles Times, March 9