Alonzo Davis (c) Elisa Leonelli
I met Alonzo Davis in 1983, while I was covering the year-long preparation to the 1984 Olympics, because he was the director of the Olympics mural project. I repeatedly photographed him in front of his three panel mural Eye on ‘84 along the 10 Fwy, and chronicled its painting progress.
Alonzo Davis (c) Elisa Leonelli
Read some quotes from my interview:
What does this Olympic mural project represents?
“It represents Los Angeles, all these communities and these people, many different ways of approaching esthetic problems, of designing, creating a mural.”
Was it a conscious choice to include Black, women, Chicano muralists?
“Yes, because these artists have a history of executing murals in their communities. In this project we wanted artists that had a commitment to public street art, a level of technical and esthetic excellence, who had executed two or more major pieces in this city. Los Angeles is comprised of these people who tend to be historically ignored, so in a sense this is a reversal of that situation.”
Alonzo Davis (c) Elisa Leonelli
What does your triptych mean?
“I’m in love with life and that’s maybe what’s reflected from the hearts. I tend to work on a subconscious level, I’m not trying to make a direct message consciously all the time. I certainly want for this group of pieces to feel like a celebration, a welcoming and also to have some international overtones, cultural reflections. The audience has to put the symphony together.”
Eye on ’84 (c) Elisa Leonelli
In 2018 I asked Alonzo to confirm the titles of the individual murals, from left to right: Eye on ’84, Reflections on LA, Eye of Consciousness.
Read here an article I wrote about my experience at the 1984 Olympics.
Alonzo and I became personal friends, and remained in touch for decades after he moved to the East Coast. He would stay at my house during his visits to Los Angeles, and we had long conversations over lunch.
Alonzo Davis (c) Elisa Leonelli
Alonzo continued to work and create beautiful art until the very end. I was invited to the opening reception of his latest exhibit “Errantry” on September 7, 2024, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts center in Hyattsville, Maryland.
That’s how he described his work on his website: “My art choices and world views have been inspired by travel. I seek influences, cultural centers, energies, new terrain, and the power of both the spoken and unspoken. The magic of the Southwest United States, Brazil, Haiti, and West Africa has penetrated my work. In recent years, I have been creating works about social justice issues and the worsening climate crisis.”
Alonzo Davis passed away on January 27 at the age of 82. Read his obituary on Artnet.
Eye on ’84 © Alonzo Davis
Years ago Alonzo gifted me this framed painting that is hanging in my TV room, a lithograph of one of his studies for the Olympic mural.
If there is an after life, I trust Alonzo is there, running like this athlete.
May you rest in peace, dear friend.