Carmen Lomas Garza

Although I enjoyed reading and learning about all of Carmen Lomas Garza’s work, Tamalada stood out to me for several reasons. 

First, the piece is reflective of many works by Lomas Garza, so it provides us with a window for a larger — and deeper — understanding of her practice. It is colorful, detailed, and based on memories from her childhood that reflect cultural heritage, values, and norms. Her paintings would continue to reflect this style for many years, inspiring many generations to celebrate and reflect on their own cultural memories. 

I also like this work because although it does not look overtly political, it is. The act of asserting your cultural background and beliefs in a society that denies or challenges your roots is political. 

The final reason that I so deeply enjoy Tamalada is it’s communal nature. Instead of focusing on one person who holds power, such as the patriarchal figure, everyone in the family is viewed as important and worth depicting. This is very different from most paintings in Western Art History that focus on a singular narrative of identity. By re-creating personal memories and artistic links to Mexican history through paintings, Carmen Lomas Garza challenges American hegemony, encourages the stimulation of cultural memory, and pushes the boundaries of historical representation.