To take in the artistic outpouring of Eddie Villanueva in a gallery setting is to walk through a lucid sequence of a vaguely recurring dream.
There is an innate commonality present in each of his pieces -- repeated imagery swirling with symbolism that is both distinct and abstract. It's neither logical nor illogical, and just like dreamland, its beauty lies within colorful intrigue stemming from our most basic form of communication -- nature.
As the newly appointed curator at Bay View's Annona Bistro, Villanueva has plans to reinvent the restaurant as not only a good place to grab a bite to eat, but also as an art destination. To start, he's lined the walls with his work -- 22 pieces plus the two permanent mural installations in each bathroom -- for a show running through September.
The work in this collection highlights Villanueva as a multifaceted artist -- something he says he discovered about himself earning a fine arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well studying printmaking in Florence, Italy and living in Portland, Ore.
"I developed a style which was based on mixing active nonrepresentational line work with symbolic images," he says. "For years I had been using little symbols that reminded me of certain people or just general memories I had. The animals, for instance, represent either people I know or different versions of myself. It is kind of based in the idea of the spirit animal, the idea that a person's traits can be represented in the form found in nature."
As a gallery assistant at Tory Folliard Gallery and Peltz Gallery, he sees glimpses of Milwaukee's creative potential and hopes that his position at Anonna will works to integrate great local art into less-than-traditional venues where, he says, everyday people can experience what the art crowd already knows.
"My intention is not to make Annona more gallery than restaurant, but rather to help it become a venue that is recognized for the quality art as well as the quality eating experience. I want to discover artists who produce notable work and give them an opportunity to be seen. I (want to) find artists that compliment the space and heighten the environment so that with each show the space is transformed."
Annona Bistro's bright, airy interior accommodates installations with ease and the friendly, relaxed environment allows for art viewing that's not intimidating or contrived. Villanueva says he's sold several of the pieces he's shown at Annona, as well as received praise from the community about his work- a trend he hopes continues as he books new artists to show every two months.
"I know that Milwaukee has a flourishing art scene, but sometimes I feel like it isn't really seen," he says."
Well, here's your chance to see it. Don't forget to make Annona Bistro a stop on your Gallery Night route, Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
