Home » Screening Guide for Willis “Bing” Davis: Reach High & Reach Back

Think^TV and CET – Dayton and Cincinnati’s PBS stations – are pleased to share their new documentary, Willis “Bing” Davis: Reach High & Reach Back. This webpage has everything you need to screen the film.

This guide is also available to download as a PDF here: https://shared.publicmediaconnect.org/docs/programs/WillisBingDavis-ScreeningGuideFinal.pdf.

About Willis “Bing” Davis: Reach High & Reach Back

Few people have impacted the arts in Southwest Ohio quite like Willis “Bing” Davis. An African American artist, educator and community activist from Dayton, Davis’ artwork is known for its incorporation of African and African American themes, as well as its focus on social justice issues. He works in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, clay and found object art. His art often explores the intersection of race, identity, and history, as well as the power of community and collective action.

Screening Resources:

Watch the documentary: https://www.pbs.org/video/willis-bing-davis-reach-high-reach-back-bfqmo8/

Watch the trailer: https://video.thinktv.org/video/reach-high-reach-back-preview-rxry8t/

Learn more: https://thinktv.org/bing-davis-reach-high-reach-back/

Go behind-the-scenes of the production:

Caption: Videographer Zach Kramer records an interview at Bing Davis’ Dayton gallery.

Caption: Archival photographs of Bing Davis.

Caption: Zach Kramer and Ann Rotolante record an interview with Bing Davis at his local church.

Caption: Shon Curtis takes photos of Bing Davis ahead of the new documentary.

Caption: Bing Davis makes found art in the basement of his gallery in Dayton.

Caption: Co-Producer Rodney Veal and Bing Davis talk review archival footage.

Caption: Bing Davis finds art supplies in and around Dayton.

Discussion Questions:

Following the screening of Willis “Bing” Davis: Reach High & Reach Back, introduce your panel (if applicable) and invite them to speak about their experiences with Bing Davis, his work and the film. Allow time for follow-up questions and discussion from the audience. If there are no guest speakers or panel and the discussion is more informal, just follow up with any of these suggestions for a general audience.

• What did you learn about Bing Davis that you didn’t know before?
• What elements of African and African American culture are reflected in Bing Davis’ art?
• How does Bing use art to address social justice issues? Who are other artists that address social justice issues in their work?
• Bing Davis has had a profound impact on Dayton, Ohio and surrounding areas. What impact have artists had in your own community?
• What do you think Bing Davis’ greatest legacy will be as an artist and educator?
• What similarities are there between Bing’s family and your own?
  • Ex: Leaving the Jim Crow south and heading north to seek opportunity
  • Ex: What connections to the Civil Rights Movement does your family have?
• How have you seen sports act as a pathway to education or entrepreneurship in the African American community?
• What lessons from Bing Davis’ life and career can be applied to your own creative and professional journey?
• After viewing Bing Davis’ story, how can art change the world?
• Additional questions/points of discussion…

Help Us Track Impact:

As part of making this film available to screen by organizations like yours, we are asking that attendees of all events be encouraged to fill out our feedback form. This allows us to track the impact and reach of the film while assisting in the fundraising for future programs.

The form can be accessed online at https://forms.gle/gwfsy7fcBZZp8SjcA or with the following QR Code, which can be displayed on the screen at your event:

For more information about this documentary, please contact Think^TV