"Conversations: An Art Exhibition by Tim Davis"- Krasi Henkel

"Dialogue 1" canvas, acrylic on plexiglass.2024

Art exhibitions often ask questions of the visitors. If the artist is present, social conversations develop. However, silent conversations often take place while viewing a work of art. What is the artist’s message? How does the work inspire or inform?

Tim Davis’s exhibition, Conversations, at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art in Arlington, Virginia opened with a gracious reception on January 10. Upon entering the gallery, the tone was set by presence. It was calm, intentional, and quietly confident.

Artist Tim Davis is the consummate host. Gracious, inviting, gentle, and generous, he was never too occupied to make introductions, whether to an ambassador and his wife or to a fellow artist. I felt among friends. There were no strangers.

^{"Ashe” acrylic on plexiglass with a map of Virginia}

Davis is a gentleman, an artist, a scholar, and a teacher. Those qualities quickly revealed themselves. Soft-spoken and attentive he was the ideal considerate host. He was generous with his time and friends, and sincerely curious about those in the room.

Tim Davis with guest at the Opening for 'Conversations"

He engaged warmly with guests one-on-one, including my artist goddaughter, whom he met with kindness and interest. An aspiring 15-year-old artist and visual arts student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she felt comfortable to share her experience and ask substantive questions with Tim.  Art transcends age and their conversation was animated and inspiring. This spoke volumes about the man behind the work. His generosity is evident in the art itself.

Davis’s paintings invite lingering. They reward patience. The craftsmanship is intricate, layered, and deliberate. Sometimes gold ‘dust’ or subtle swirling elements add both depth and dimension. There is a conversational quality to the work – of endurance, hope, and transcendence. The paintings feel like thoughts recalled rather than scenes explained.

^{“The Golden Three” acrylic on canvas and plexiglass – inspired by a black and white photo}

One painting, “The Golden Three,” tells a story of an old black and white photograph brought to life in color.  The image of the three boys standing at a wall captured this quality beautifully. The work carries a sense of intimacy and timelessness. One of the boys, the one with the red cap, is Davis’s son. The gold dusting and soft movement within the piece lend memory and delight. It is as though the moment exists somewhere between recollection and imagination. It does not insist on meaning. It allows it.

^{“Do You See US?” Acrylic on Plexiglass (reverse painting)}

Another work, “Do You See Us?”, featuring figures set against the Chicago skyline and the lake, resonated deeply with several viewers. The piece acknowledges a universal human truth: the desire to be seen and heard. The struggle is real.  Davis addresses it with empathy.

Throughout the evening, the atmosphere mirrored the work: thoughtful, respectful, and engaged. The gallery provided a gracious setting for conversation, and the founders’ support of Davis’s work was evident in the care taken with both installation and hospitality. It was an experience designed to connect.

Gallery curator, David Carlson, added depth and context to the exhibition by introducing the gallery’s founder’s vision and mission: “The mission of the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art is to bring together artists of all mediums and styles to showcase their work to Arlington, Virginia and its surrounding communities. We celebrate the unique connection that art can create among friends and strangers alike.”

If the exhibition draws you in, the conversation continues. The exhibition is on display until February 28.

Written by Freind of the Gallery Krasi Henkel