Alonzo Williams: Refocus
Artist Statement
An artist sits in his messy apartment, visibly distracted, mentally exhausted, and oblivious to the responsibilities that surround him. He stares blankly out of the space of his small interior, daydreaming about the outdoors. The shelves remain unclean, the laundry stays unattended, and the many books meant to feed the artist’s imagination lay scattered on the bed. And despite all of this, the deadlines approach, unperturbed (as time tends to be). The artist takes a moment to pray.
My short film Refocus is an animated exploration of prayer and its significance to my life as a college student and artist. Recently, I have been committing myself to long-form art projects, and as someone who can get distracted easily, prayer and meditation acts as a lynchpin to my forward progress.
With the origami dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit, and the wolves symbolizing the apprehension developed from encroaching deadlines, I wished to create a short narrative that reconciled the physical and spiritual. With that being said, I did not want to frame the act of prayer as a grandiose, formalist activity. As the title suggests, the act of recentering my focus occurs regularly, often in my own home. That does not mean the act is unimportant; on the contrary, it is an invaluable part of my everyday life.
I hope that my film provides the audience clear and simple insight into one aspect of my prayer life, while also empathizing with those who work hard to nurture and develop their artistic passions.
About the Project
- Title of Work: Refocus
- Medium: Animated digital short film, 1920 x 1080 px
- Student's Name: Alonzo Williams
- Major: Art
- Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
- Hometown: O'Fallon, Illinois, The United States
- Student's Mentor: Lynn Kim
- Mentor's Department: Digital Storytelling
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