Love Force

About the Art

This portrait is of Dayton artist and educator Willis “Bing” Davis, who has made countless contributions to the Dayton community. It shares a positive message of love conquering hate and suggests the deep respect Pate, also a Daytonian, has for Davis, as an artist, mentor, teacher and friend.

Love Force joins 36 scratchboards to make this single image. Scratchboard is composed of compressed cardboard that is coated in white China clay and then covered with black India ink. Artists use sharp instruments to cut or engrave through the ink to expose the white clay beneath. Every mark must be intentional as there is no way to erase mistakes.

FEATURED IMAGE
James Pate (American), Love Force, 2024, scratch boards, 66 x 84 inches (167.6 x 213.4 cm). Museum purchase, 2024.19