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LikemanyfamousartistsVeniceBeachCA.basedartistandsculptorWoodsDavyfeelsaconnectionbetweenhisownworkandtheloveofcollectingtribalart.UponenteringDavyshometheshearnumberofmasksofthesametypeisoverwhelming.Asyouwalkintohisworkingstudioanarmyoffullcostumedfiguresawaitswhichremindsusoftheveryvisceralexperiencethatistribalart.WhereiyoustuyrtwhtwsyourmireoffousTheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillforaBFAandtheUniversityofIllinoisatChampaign-UrbanaforanMFAbothinsculpture.IalwaystookartclasseswhenIwasgrowingupinMiamiandtheninWashingtonD.C.WherewhewsyourfirstexhibitiosrofessiortistMyfirstmatureexhibitionwasatSecurityPacificBankPlazaindowntownL.A.in1980.cyouexiyoursuturewhtwhoisireyouInitiallyIwasworkingwiththeideaofcreatingaresolvedbalancebetweenman-madeandnaturalformbothmindandemotion.LaterIfocusedonsomeofthenaturalelementsandtriedtoreducethosedetailsdowntotheiressence.IendedupwiththeCantamarserieswherethestonesappeartofloatdenyinggravityandtheiridentity.IfeelcompelledtomaketheseworksastheygivemeasenseoftheunexpectedbutitismorethanthatthereissomethinginthewayIfeelwhenIlookatthemsomethingthatbringsserenity.Ilikethatfeelingitsveryresolvedandverybenevolent.AndImaketheselargegraniteboulderworksthatarequitetheoppositetoughandanimatedverybrute.TheytakemefromthetranquilityoftheCantamarseriestoafeelingofagitatedroughtrade.HowiyougetivovewithoetigTribartDuringaLosAngelesCountyMuseumArtandArchitecturetourofourhomestudioin1987EleanorStendahlsawafakeZapotecurnalittleBajasouvenirandaskedwhydontwegetarealone.IsaidhowdoIdothatandshesaidIlltradeyouoneforthatsculptureoverthere.Ihadalwaysbeeninterestedinartfromotherculturessothatgotmestarted.WhtwsthefirstieeoftribrtyouquireItwasaverybruteKumumaskthatIboughtfromMortDimondsteinprobablyabout1990.WhenIfirstsawitIknewitwasmineIwantedthatenergy.Ittookmeayeartopayforit.WhtfirstttrteyoutooetSogyeKifwebemsksfromthedRcwhtotheymetoyouIthinkitgoesbacktomyearlysculpturesthatcombinationofoppositesthatcreatessomethinggreaterthanthesumofitsparts.Iwasfascinatedbytheintelligenceofthearchitectureoutofwhichemergedthispowerfulexpressiveforceagainbothmindandemotion.Withthesetwoextremespresentinoneobjectitproducedanotherworldlyforcethatreallyspoketome.Iwantedtopossestheseformsandalwaysholdthemexaminethemlearnfromthem.IusuallytakeonetobedeverynightandjuststudyitasIlaythereHowmyKifwebemsksoyouthikyouhveiyouroetioIguessIhaveabout300orsoincludingthesmallmaskettespanelsandotherkifweberelatedmaterial.doyouhvefvoriteKifwebeorseimemoryofKifwebethtwsgretexeseortsktoquireSometimesIseeamaskanditstartlesmeandstaresrightbackatmeandIreallywanttolivewithitfortherestofmylife.Butofcourseitcanbedifficulttoactuallyacquireitespeciallywithlimitedfinancialresources.Ittookmeabout5yearstoacquireamaskthatAlexArthurhaditwasalwaysonmymindbutoutofmyreachuntilitjusthappenedoneday.OneofmyfavoritemaskscomesfromPierreDartevellewhohasalwaysbeenverykindtomeitisaNorthernKalebwemaskwithgreatpowerandpresence.AndIhaveboughtsomeveryinterestingtopmasksfromDidierClaesandhisfatherPatric.OncewhileinBrusselsDidiersaidOhWoodsIhavesomethingforyoucomeintothekitchenandtherewasanancientfemaleSongyemaskwithtripleeyebrows.IfeltanoverpoweringexcitementasIgrabbeditimmediatelyandsaidthankyou.AndhisfatherPatricfieldcollectedtheaggressivefemalemaskwithfullcostumeinthephoto.IlovethatmaskPatrichasbeenveryhelpfultome.IhaveknownMarcFelixformanyyearsandhehasalwayshelpedmeinmyquesttolearn.TherearemanyotherEuropeandealersthathavebecomegoodfriendsaswelllikeAlainNaoumwhohasbeenverygenerousovertheyears.GoingtoBruneafisalwaysoneofthegreatestexperiencesofmylife.doKifwebemsksisireyousrtistifsohowYestheydobutImstilllearninghow.PerhapssometimeIllknowbutnowIjustgethintsandflashes.Thatmakestheprocessofcollectingartandmakingartmoreofajourney.Ithinkonceyouknowalltheanswersitbecomeslessinspiring.pROFIlEOFanaRTISTandcOllEcTORanInTERVIEWWITHWOOdSdaVYByDavidCassera