Willis "Bing" Davis: Reach High & Reach Back

Willis "Bing" Davis likes using discarded and recycling material as a way of expanding one's understanding and appreciation of life and art. "We are a society that make things for our convenience and for our livelihood, but we also have a narrow perception of its functional use."

Art might not be therapy for everyone, but it can help people overcome. In this video, Willis "Bing" Davis recounts an experience with an inmate serving a life sentence.

Whether it's listening to music or going for a walk, you have to find your flow to get those creative juices flowing.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.