Arthur Kdav ( Keith Davis): An Artist Story

 I found some more great photos today of Arthur Kdav's work.  Here is a picture of him standing next to one of his finished iron pieces.  His coffee cup and pot always with him while he worked.  I just love the image.   His work .... really ... I wish I could see all his pieces in person.  

 Today I started to go through some of Arthur Kdav (Keith Davis') slides of his artwork.  While these are not the most awesome photographs of the projected image on my yellowish walls - I still wanted to share some of them. Arthur Kdav standing in front of one of his sculptural wall pieces I am still working on finding the title for this piece - I wish I knew where it was because I really love it!  If you are the owner or know the owner please send me a comment.  Would love to get an updated listing regarding where it is located. Arthur Kdav (Keith Lowden Davis) working at his sewing machine making his unique and amazing canvas shapes to be strung later on his hand made and designed sculptural iron frames. Examples above and below of his completed canvases prior to stretching them over the iron. AND ... this one.  I don't recall ever seeing it.  What stands out is the lacing work he includes on the front of the piece.  I believe it is two female forms ...

  This piece was shown 30 years ago in Chicago at the Mary Bell Galleries.  It looks amazing today!  We have the drawings he did when he was designing the frame for this one.  Wonderful sketches of dancers to create this iron piece. 

Arthur Kdav/Keith Davis first learned to sew and repair sails for boats out on the east coast in Marblehead, Massachusetts.    In 1966-67, he traveled from the midwest after college to go see the shores of Walden Pond.  While he was there he met someone who told him about a wonderful town in Massachusetts that he should go visit.  Marblehead.  So he went there and found an artist gallery to visit.  He went into Ned Fish's gallery.  He asked Ned questions about the town and told him about his own artwork and desires to stay in Marblehead.  They immediately shared a common love in the arts and a kinship.   Ned was going to be out of town the next week with his wife on vacation.  He told my dad that if his wife approved he could stay and take care of the gallery while they were out of town.  So, he met Ned's wife and she approved of Keith Davis (Arthur Kdav) so he was offered the chance to be there for the week they were away...

Keith's oldest daughter, Heather Swan, just published an article about her dad.  The link is below.  "Living into the Blind Spots" https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/winterspring-2021/essay/living-blind-spots    

As I find additional links to my father's art I will post them into the blog.  This website below is one my younger sister, Jenny Davis, created with my dad several years ago.   This is a link to another blog about Arthur Kdav - Keith Davis

 As I go through examples of Arthur Kdav - Keith Davis' artwork I am amazed by the distinct changes in his "periods/phases" as he developed and changed as an artist.  He built the frames and stretched the canvases for these acrylic paintings.  I think as a family we know where one of these paintings now resides - the rest are scattered in homes all over.   We would love to get posts from people who have these are on their walls in their homes!   We want this to be a place for people to connect who have his work - would like to acquire his work - or are looking to sell his work.