Week 5: Carmen Lomas Garza

Part of what makes Garza's work so captivating is her use of color to
enhance the narrative she's telling. As I've been looking through her work,
I feel as though the vibrant colors really help convey memory. The colors
are almost reminiscent of what it feels to look at film photography in a way.
Which is really special, because when you look at 35mm film, you
feel this sense of nostalgia, so the fact that Garza's art has captured this
concept is amazing. As a photographer, looking at Garza's work has
really made me re-think the colors that I implement in my photographs.
I want to get to a point where I can capture color this beautifully.
In this scene, I really love the fact that Garza has chosen to portray
this act of baking and cooking as something that everyone in the family
does. It's not a gendered activity, but rather a familial one that everyone
participates in. I love how at the far left, you have a girl holding onto the
chair, as if she's waiting for her parents to give her a piece to try. The
way Garza adorns the background is equally as special. If you're Latinx
you've definitely been to a home that looks similar to this one. The fact
that Garza can capture all of the little things so well, without missing
a detail is what makes her work so special. From the floral decorations
on the cabinet space, to the calendar with a pyramid on it. Garza truly
captures the essence of family and what it feels like to be at home.