By
Hillary Davis and Maggie Burnett
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Bright reds and oranges, scraps of discarded street signs and grainy newspaper photo transfers combine to make Willie Bonner's artwork vivid and indelible, with the intense images practically jumping into the consciousness of the viewer.
Although Bonner is himself soft-spoken and lower-key than his searing colors and thick lines, the UA painting graduate student is still passionate about the reaction he would like his eclectic collage style to produce.
"It's a cluster of many styles woven together to create dialogue with the viewers," Bonner said.
Examples of Bonner's artwork - ranging from nude figures to mixed media and abstract works - are currently on display in his exhibit, "Recent Paintings" at the Arizona Gallery in the Memorial Student Union. Bonner also recently created the mural that decorates the exterior of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. building.
A career artist, Bonner first discovered art at the tender age of 4, when he visited the Cleveland Museum of Art and was "overwhelmed" by what he saw - as well as what he did not see.
Bonner said he felt the experiences of American blacks were not widely enough represented in art, so he now often draws from his life as a black man in America to produce his images - portraying both his personal observations as well as creating new ideas that whites have not afforded blacks, he said.
Bonner's background also includes work in the art education and art therapy fields. As an art therapist, Bonner combined drawing, painting and other forms of art such as crafts and ceramics to help his clients open up.
"It was a wonderful experience. It helped people and myself to really relax and open dialogue, and create communities," he said.
An Ohio native, Bonner first came to Arizona in 1998, staying a year in Flagstaff teaching art education at Northern Arizona University before applying to be a graduate student and teaching assitant in the University of Arizona art department.
At age 48, Bonner can bring the knowledge gleaned as a lifelong artist to his younger university students. Bonner has met and learned from many artists and knows how to make a living out of art - he noted that he did not have a conventional full-time job until age 40.
Bonner said perseverance and dedication are important traits for young artists to have in order to realize their artistic aspirations.
"I feel that they should stick to their dreams and work very hard at it, and if they do that they will definitely be satisfied," he said.
Upon completion of his master's degree, Bonner said he may continue with art education and building his own portfolio.
"I plan to possibly teach awhile and produce a large body of work and exhibit more, and see what happens from there," he said.
Bonner discusses his art
In "Recent Paintings," Bonner's images reflect on his experiences as a black man in postmodern America.
"My work documents my upcoming here, being a black American," Bonner said. "I'm really interested in art. It became my communication."
Bonner's paints in bold, primary reds, blues and yellows, and many of his works are composed of raw materials fixed onto jagged pieces of wood, creating a three-dimensional space.
"I create a layer in each material I use. Colors push other colors forward," Bonner said. "There's a right time to pick the right color, which keeps it interesting."
In one particular piece entitled "Black Looks," a faded image of several people layered under red paint symbolizes an urban alleyway plagued with homelessness.
Also included in the gallery is a small series of nude human images entitled "Figurative Paintings." The figures possess names that reflect the image portrayed, such as "Nick Nimble Toes" and "Venus." Although Bonner said some viewers may find eroticism or humor in the series, he painted the images with the simple desire to paint with oils and experiment with light.
"The colors fuse together to create a space around the person," he said. "It's an early style I used as a child."
Three of Bonner's pieces are a composition of magazine and newspaper clippings, wood pieces and nails. Bonner explained his simplistic material-gathering method for one particular image entitled "Pieces."
"I just find pieces or go out to thrift stores, dumpsters and I say, 'Yeah, maybe I can do something with that,'" he said.
Although "Recent Paintings" contains a vast array of pieces, Bonner made it clear he does not have a favorite image in the show. Since he has been creating artwork his entire life, Bonner views his work as a method of development.
"Every painting takes me to the next, kind of like growth. It's soul searching for me," he said. "The more medium I play in the more I grow. You create your own voice."
"Recent Paintings" can be seen at the Arizona Gallery on the second floor of the Student Union through Oct. 5.
