Artist Exhibit at MAE

September 1 – October 27, 2022

Artist Reception : TBD

Artist Statement

Art is everywhere, though I didn’t see that for most of my life. I am Billie Davids, a lifelong Iowan, and an artist.   My thought processes and ideas for art include demonstrating the real-life of everyday people, and places.  There is a quiet magnificence in everyone and if I can use my art to share their stories.  Additionally, I ask that you open your mind to consider alternative perspectives and possibilities that you may have yet considered.

I have had the great opportunity to share my work in galleries throughout the Midwest, I have been an artist in residence at Herbert Hoover Museum.  My art has been used to create quilting fabric, backgrounds for digital images, and other media.  I have art hanging in restaurants, galleries, living rooms, business offices, and here before you all.   I have shown in art shows in the Quad Cities, Bellevue, IA, Rock Island, IL, Clinton, IA, and at any other location where I thought my art could touch someone new.

I have found Iowans are wonderfully creative, insightful, forward-minded people, from a great state, where people work hard and play with purpose. Genuinely,  I am interested and curious about people. On our faces, we wear Characteristics, Thoughts, and Elements from our dragons to our faith. I want to in some way document those Elements.

I am fascinated by the universe.  Along with my fifth painting, I woke up thinking about the Periodic Table of Elements.  I mapped it out, from a chart I found in an old dictionary and painted The Periodic Table using paint left over from the other paintings.  It was a time-consuming process but eventually, all the squares got filled in then a month or so to dry and the process of adding the white ink letters began. This chart supposedly contains everything that exists in the universe, and even things still unknown. Who wouldn’t want to paint that? From this two other charts were imagined and painted as, The Table of Human Qualities and Characteristics, and A Modern Study of Cognitive Practices.

Taken as a whole, the charts connect to a Universal DNA system. Connecting myself with Human Alchemy, I discovered I wanted to become a better cell, then on to the Absolutes.

The Elements teach me that every decision, thought, adventure even the one’s imagined, every bite that I taste is an Element and connection to nature, to love and to you. As these Elements enter and leave me, I am changed just as those who cross my path change me. Now my interest is expanding, I am going on from there with my journey of the Elements into the Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and Spirit.

I am also fascinated with learning. That is where the random pictures of flowers, a river scene from Lindsey Park in Davenport Iowa, or three little girls in tutu’s come from. I look at something and I wonder how to paint it. Some turn out to be flops but even in the flops, I learn. I continue to be fascinated by all kinds and mediums of art, linoleum block, poster art, abstract, the list goes on. I think we are all extraordinary people trying to find our way in the world may be in fear or maybe with open-mindedness but always toward each other. I believe, “some part” of my inner-connectedness with you all involves painting.

I welcome you all to have a look, pieces of me are in each of these paintings, and I hope that they touch each of you.

Thanks for looking, et al.

Billie Davids
(563) 349-3338

www.billiedavids.com