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Dayton artist holds special workshop for special young girl

Artist Bing Davis invited Jayln Jefferson, 8, of Columbus to his Dayton studio for an art workshop after meeting her at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Contributed photo Artist Bing Davis invited Jayln Jefferson, 8, of Columbus to his Dayton studio for an art workshop after meeting her at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

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By Dale Huffman, Contributing columnist 3:22 AM Thursday, December 3, 2009

It was a chance meeting, and it allowed Bing Davis of Dayton to touch the life of a young girl in a positive way with his talents and his caring attitude.

Davis is a nationally recognized award-winning artist who has a studio at 1135 W. Third St.

The meeting occurred at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where Davis was changing planes while en route to Los Angeles.

“I was flying to L.A. for a final visit with my brother, John Joseph Davis,” the artist said. “John was a noted professional photographer and I went out there to be with him in his final days. We lost him after an eight-year struggle with ALS.” (ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.)

During the layover, Davis noticed the shirts a girl and her mother were wearing.

“They were colorful Make-A-Wish shirts, and I surmised that the child was on a special trip sponsored by an organization that provides special wishes for children fighting a serious illness.”

He said he found out the 8-year-old girl, Jalyn Jefferson, was indeed on a special wish trip escorted by her mother, Tonda Jefferson, and that the two lived in Columbus.

He also learned they were heading to an amusement park and a Hollywood movie lot in Los Angeles.

Davis explained to the pair that he is an artist who sometimes presents art workshops for young people.

He said he impulsively invited Jalyn to come to Dayton some day and he would hold an art workshop just for her.

Some weeks later, after the girl’s visit to the West Coast, it was worked out that Jalyn, her mother and friend Tifanie Davis (no relation to Bing) would come here.

The small group spent Sept. 26 in the Davis art studio.

“We started with discussions of traditional African textiles as a catalyst for learning,” Davis said. “Jalyn learned about Kente cloth, Adinkra cloth, Adire cloth and other images of African-American textiles.”

Davis said his visitors especially enjoyed seeing the images of people in West Africa, and were pleased to hear the African music that accompanied his presentation.

Each of those in the studio made a quilt square that day and the six squares were united into what Davis called “Jalyn’s Peace Quilt.”

Davis found out that Jalyn recently celebrated her 8th birthday, and at the end of the session Audrey Davis, Bing’s wife, brought in a birthday cake she prepared that said “Happy Birthday Jalyn.”

Jalyn and her mother told Davis they enjoyed their first visit to Dayton and thanked him for his kindness and professional presentation.

“As goodbyes were being said, I asked Jalyn for one promise,” Davis said.

“She gave me a big smile and promised she would invite me to her high school graduation in 10 years.”

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He’d like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

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