Willis "Bing" Davis: Reach High & Reach Back

Arts can work together, sometimes even in the same exhibit. It's all about the message you're trying to convey and the experience you're creating for the audience.

Willis "Bing" Davis loves working with clay. Whether you're using a wheel, a slab roller or your hands, it's just a special medium. Clay is also somewhat of a microcosm for our society - we can mold it and shape it, but we need the right tools and mindset.

Although Willis "Bing" Davis had been pegged to be his community's next great athlete, he was five years old when he knew he wanted to be an artist. People laughed, but he never gave up hope and he never stopped working toward his dream.

For Willis "Bing" Davis, the anxiety about sharing his work is more about worrying that it will be misinterpreted more than not enjoyed.

Few people have impacted the arts in Southwest Ohio quite like Willis “Bing” Davis. An African American artist, educator and community activist from Dayton, Davis’ artwork is known for its incorporation of African and African American themes, as well as its focus on social justice issues. The film, co-produced by Ann Rotolante and Rodney Veal, premieres in October of 2024.

When very different people share the same art experience, it can spur conversation and understanding between them. For Willis "Bing" Davis, that's one of art's super powers.

To be a professional artist, you also have to be a business person. You need to understand finance, marketing, operations... everything that goes into running a company.

After a lifetime of creating art, Willis "Bing" Davis knows a few things about getting stuck when you're trying to work creativity. For him, it's about getting into the flow. But how do you do that? It's different for everyone.

Everyone can be an artist - it's about expression and experience. Willis "Bing" Davis says we need to encourage young people to keep dreaming and keep working while continuing to incorporate art in education. Who says the sky isn't green?

Willis "Bing" Davis says art isn't a universal language - but it does have universal forms. Because of those forms, we can use art to understand other cultures and enjoy shared experiences.

Sometimes even the right music and the perfect morning walk doesn't result in a creative flow for the day. When it's just not working, Willis "Bing" Davis will walk away and try something else. Maybe it's sketching out a future piece or watching an ant crawl.

Arts can help us understand ourselves and appreciate others. In this clip, Willis "Bing" Davis discusses how art can bridge cultures and how he uses found objects to make necklaces, belts, headwear and other art.