Howdy,

my name is Jules Davis. I am a gardener, artist, and teacher from Chester County, PA. After completing my BA in Studio art at the College of Wooster in 2019 I went on to pursue my M.Ed. in Art Education at Tyler School of Art & Architecture, where I will graduate in 2023.

As far back as I can remember, I have spent my summers outside, and for over half of my life I have been a gardener. Before I knew what it meant to be an artist, I was an explorer. Through my experiences with plants, birds, toads and fungi I have fostered a curiosity in systems and interconnectivity. This curiosity has tethered my art making both to the natural world and to community.

Last night, I went to put my chickens in and I noticed the wonderful fragrance of Hamamelis virginiana or witch hazel. The sweet smell followed me all around my back yard. What kind of pollinator is it trying to attract in the dark of night? The question fills me with wonder.

Art is my way of exploring and celebrating the mysterious world around me. To make art is to have the ability to transform one object into another; the ability to create meaning and highlight relatedness; art gives us infinite ways to connect with the world around us, and explore what it means to be alive. Whatever it is that my students relate to- athletics, music, trains etc. I will show them how art deepens our connections to the world and our relationships with each other.