Jemes Davis 

My name is Jemes Davis. I am from Oklahoma, descended from Texans. I am something of a jack of all trades as is my ethic as an artist. Professionally I am an Arborist. Working with trees is like a communion with living sculpture. Trees are so interwoven with human existence, that they always play a large part in my expression, materially or otherwise.

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I carve in the round, it makes sense to me that way because to some degree the material itself dictates the form. My work is frequently mixed media. This is important because that's how I see life and relationships. Most recently, I've been experimenting with clay; sculpting, firing techniques and glazes.

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Jemes was born in 1973, in Oklahoma City. He has trained as a chef and traveled abroad collecting images and experiences that help shape his art. Today, as an arborist, he loves working with large, majestic trees such as the Trinity Oak in downtown Columbia. When the call comes that one of these beauties has to be removed, he pays tribute by giving them a second life as art. Paying close attention to the grain and voice of the tree, each piece has its own story to tell.

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Jemes was elected for the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington County's Street Gallery IV in 2011. His work is in the Permanent Collection of USC's McKissick Museum, he has been a featured artist at McKissick Galas, Color the Arts Events and Sandhill Academy auctions as well as one-man and group shows at HoFP.

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He is a carver, a painter, a potter, a welder, a bee-keeper and a builder of very unique bee-hives . . . for very lucky bees!