Walking into Starbucks at the Quarry, James Davis seems relaxed, but as he reaches to open the door he hesitantly admits, “I always wonder if it’ll still be there.”
Sure enough, adorning the wall is the dark wooden art piece Davis created. Like a puzzle piece, it fits right into the cozy atmosphere of the coffee shop.
Davis, an English senior at Texas A&M-San Antonio, creates wooden wall sculptures. Some pieces were constructed for the display for local restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops in the Quarry Market.
As artist and entrepreneur, Davis’ hope is that by putting his sculptures out into the public, they will be accessible for people to view or buy. Either way, he says, gives himself the chance to get his name out in the art world.
The wooden sculptures are bold and strong, yet at the same time bring warmth to the walls they decorate. The pieces in the Quarry are a bit more unique, Davis says, because he doesn’t keep the money when they sell. All proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Davis’ father passed away from Leukemia when he was 11. His father, also a woodworker, majored in fine art, but for a reason unknown to his son, stopped creating in his mid-20s. Davis, who has reached the age his father was when he stopped creating art, now works in the shop his father built. Davis says he feels he’s picking up where his father left off.
When asked about how he creates these art pieces, Davis coyly looks away and glances back to say, “It’s a secret.” He does confess to a few things though; he uses power tools some store-bought stains and other organic stains, which he makes himself.
“I have jars upon jars of failed stains,” Davis says.
But one stain that was a success was concocted from Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans. The inspiration for this stain is heartfelt. “Dunkin’ Donuts was a place my dad always took me when I was younger,” Davis says.
The idea to sell his artwork for LLS came from a fundraising effort called Team in Training (TNT), which James participates in. In TNT, individuals can be trained for marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, a century bike ride and/or a hiking adventure in exchange for LLS fundraising money.
Trainers also give advice on how to fundraise the money.
Davis raised $1,750 for the marathon he ran through TNT in November and is in the process of raising $3,000 for his next run.
Three of Davis’ pieces have been sold for fundraising but many more are displayed and for sale at multiple locations in the Quarry Market — J. Alexanders, Starbucks, Canyon Cafe and Amy’s Ice Cream.
James’ efforts to raise money for LLS don’t end at selling his wooden-sculptures.
“Last week I stood outside a Wal-Mart in Pleasanton dressed up as a piece of broccoli and raised $400,” he said.
As of now, Davis is only $600 shy of his $3000 dollar fundraising goal to participate in an upcoming marathon. The Nike’s Women’s Marathon, an all-women event, takes place in mid-October in San Francisco. He explains that because he’s running through the TNT chairty, he will be allowed to run.
At the finish line of this marathon, the runners will be greeted with Tiffany’s Co. designed necklaces handed out by local San Francisco firefighters in Tuxedos.
A jokingly but confident Davis smiles while saying, “I’m going to get my Tiffany’s necklace.”
Whether he is building art from wood, dressing up as broccoli or racing for jewels there is no doubt that James will do whatever it takes to raise money for this cause.
To see Davis’ work or for more information visit http://www.jamesmccarleyart.bigcartel.com/ and http://jamesmccarleyart.tumblr.com/.
