by: Lauren Hodges

Harry Davis
Davis Art Studio,
10210 Mariners Cove Court, Belville, NC
davisartstudio@ec.rr.com
www.davisartstudio.com

Though so many talented artists, young and old, have been attracted to the Port City in times of inspiration and creation, few are able to say that they have had front-row seats to the emergence of Wilmington as a major arts center in the South. Harry Davis, a self-taught painter native to the area, has his own studio in Wilmington, and his paintings inhabit the private collections of celebrities like Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Bill Cosby and the late Nell Carter. He was the featured artist at the 2006 Azalea Festival and has received several awards for his work as a painter.

Remaining in Wilmington his entire life has given Davis a unique perspective on the creative city as it once was, as it is now and what it is sure to become.

encore: How long have you been in Wilmington?
Harry Davis: I’ve lived in Wilmington my whole life, since 1949.

e: What was the art community like in 1984?
HD: My art career was just getting started, so to speak, and I was not really considering art as a profession yet. I don’t, however, recall the art community being as vibrant as it is now, with as many galleries or artists.The only name I remember standing out was “Claude Howell.”

e: Did certain neighborhoods in Wilmington inspire any of your paintings?
HD: I don’t think any neighborhoods in Wilmington inspired my paintings, but early on in my career I was probably very influenced by the rural areas outside of Wilmington, like Pender and Brunswick counties. They influenced my work more than my immediate neighborhoods.

e: What, in your opinion, was the most important thing to happen to the local art scene in the past 25 years?
HD: The Cameron Art Museum.

e: How do you think the art scene has changed since 1984?
HD: There seems to be a greater appreciation of art and artists now since 1984, and more artists and galleries. The arts community seems to be more organized now than years ago. For a city its size, Wilmington has a pretty thriving arts community and seems to have a reputation as a center for the arts.

e: What do you think of the local art community today?
HD: As a professional artist, I have been affected by the downturn in the economy just like everyone else, and so has the local arts community. But all in all, I would have to say the local arts community is managing to remain vibrant, active and relevant.

e: Do you have any predictions for the future of art in Wilmington?
HD: I believe it can only be positive. As the city grows, the art community will only grow with it.