Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Papers and original artwork of Esteban Villa, former muralist, artist, Chicano activist, and founding member of the Royal Chicano Air Force.
- Extent:
- 23 Linear Feet; (4 document boxes, 2 half-document boxes, 42 drop-front boxes, and 1 flat file)
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item] Esteban Villa papers, CEMA 50. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains materials produced and compiled by Esteban Villa during the period between 1974-2004. Materials may include original artwork, correspondence, exhibition announcements, collected writings, research files, and other ephemera. A considerable portion of the collection contains over 6000 original sketches by Villa.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Born in Tulare California, Esteban Villa (August 3, 1930 - May 16, 2022) was a nationally-renowned Chicano muralist. He was considered one of Sacramento's most respected artists. Villa was a founding member of the Royal Chicano Air Force, an artistic and cultural collective created amidst the Chicano movement's battle for social and political rights and recognition. Villa described himself as a muralist, printmaker, art educator and community activist.
His work sometimes contains surrealist elements through his inclusion and references to such things as the flying jalapeno, flying burrito brothers, and tortilla art. His use of the religious iconography of La Virgen de Guadalupe and El Dia de Los Muertos ground him within the creative Chicano lexicon. Though his works can easily be categorized within the mainstream of fine art, he once stated, "Chicano artists do Chicano art. Call it fine art if you like. The Chicano artist brings this iconography to your attention. If we don't do it, no one else will."
Some of Villa's most recognized works and exhibitions included "La Super Chicana," "La Arte Cosmica de Esteban Villa," "Los Olvidados" (the homeless), "Menudo Eaters," "Portraits," and murals at Southside Park (the underpass to Old Sacramento) and Macy's Parking Lot (downtown Sacramento).
Villa's teaching career began in 1962. He started teaching high school, and then took assignments at Washington State University, D-Q University, University of California, Davis, and California State University, Sacramento, where he retired as a professor emeritus. He served as an art consultant to many schools and organizations, including The Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) Centro de Artistas Chicanos, and conducted art programs within the California prison system. Villa's work was frequently shown in Sacramento at the Crocker Museum, Galera Posada, and Luna's Cafe. Villa could also be found occasionally performing as a singer and guitarist. The Sacramento Bee called Villa, "An extraordinary man: a mural artist, musician, teacher and community leader who is known for his barrio art."
In addition, Villa was involved in the production of "Pilots of Aztlan", a video documentary about the Royal Chicano Air Force, where he appeared along with other RCAF members. The documentary was originally aired in January 1995. Villa was involved in the planning of a mural developed by the schoolchildren of Freeport Elementary School and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission on the Freeport Elementary School site in the Spring of 1995.
- Acquisition information:
- Donated by Esteban Villa December 2001 and 2004.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged by topic and format into eight series:
- Series 1: Personal biographical
- Series 2: Exibitions
- Series 3: Writings
- Series 4: Research files
- Series 5: Photographs and slides
- Series 6: Artwork
- Series 7: Oversize
- Series 8: Audiovisual materials
- Physical location:
- Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item] Esteban Villa papers, CEMA 50. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062