By Lisa Zimmerman | Engagement Insider
Art has always been part of Vernon Davis’ soul. It was something he could never explain; it was just there. But, growing up in a disadvantaged Washington, D.C, neighborhood, the San Francisco 49ers tight end knew that showing an interest in art was a quick way to put a target on your back. To be cool you had to either play sports or have the latest Air Jordan sneakers. So, as one of seven siblings being raised on welfare by their grandparents, Davis excelled at sports and kept his art talent hidden. He painted only in the privacy of his own home.
Davis knew early on that he wanted to change the trajectory of his future and that of his family’s future. In junior high and high school, Davis would drag younger brother Vontae (now a cornerback with the Indianapolis Colts) along with him to work out.
“I would say, ‘The only way we’re going to make it is to work,’” Davis recalled. “I knew I had to pave the way because no one in my family was successful. The only way you change and reach your full potential is if you get up and say ‘I’m going to do this.’”
That focus and commitment paid off. Davis was offered a football scholarship to the University of Maryland and that changed everything. Not only did it pave the way for his NFL career, it freed him to pursue his love of art.
When he arrived at Maryland, Davis tossed aside his concerns about his love for art. He became a standout player for the Terrapins – and a Studio Art major. Then, in 2006, the 49ers drafted Davis with the sixth overall pick in that year’s NFL Draft.
Now a nine-year NFL veteran, Davis has branched out in many ways off the field, with his primary focus still on art. He launched his Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts and then, in December 2012, he opened his own gallery, Gallery 85, located on Santana Row in San Jose, California. Recently, he awarded the first VDFA scholarship, which is given to a college student pursuing the arts.
While many may view art and football as radically different pursuits, Davis feels otherwise. “They kind of correlate,” he said. “When you’re in front of the canvas you can’t leave it until it’s complete. The only way to feel complete about yourself and the work you’re trying to portray is to complete it. Just like football, whether it’s a route or a play, the only way to have that feeling of fulfillment is to do it over and over until you accomplish it.”
While he still paints on a regular basis, Davis is not as interested in publicly promoting his own art. While it was initially displayed in his gallery, he now shows only up-and-coming artists with the goal of promoting new talent and opening up the world of art to children who might otherwise not have access to it or be able to experience it.
He credits his grandmother with laying a foundation for him in his youth and it remains at the heart of what he is trying to convey to and teach others. “The way she mentored and taught us,” he said. “Anything you can teach a kid about manners, she taught us all that. The way she represented herself is the way she taught me to represent myself.”
With his own upbringing, he is acutely aware of the lack of opportunity and resources in low income communities, especially those that are primarily African-American. “We’re the minority. We don’t have access to what the majority has. We have to motivate ourselves. It has to be in you. If I’m in the position to motivate somebody I’m going to do it, but they have to accepting.”
Davis has been extremely gratified by the response he has seen from the children who have participated in the foundation’s programs and hopes to continue to expand his reach.
“Sometimes the kids may not be into art, but I’m still able to make an impact on their lives. I want to get them to a place where it’s not just about paintings; it’s about jazz it’s about acting, anything you can do differently that’s considered as art. There are different realms. Where I come in is to inspire them in a way that they’re not scared. When they see me, they’re free.”
Davis has long been curious as to where he got his talent and interest from and recently received a huge surprise. A family member finally told him that his paternal grandfather and a maternal uncle had been painters. Davis was flabbergasted. “I always wondered why I was so fascinated with the world of art,” he said.
The final piece of the puzzle has finally fallen into place.
For more information on The Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts and Gallery 85: www.vernondavisfoundation.org.