I love that while her pieces might be extremely personal to her life, they are still inviting and welcoming to viewers to interject their own experiences. Out of all the stunning paintings in Constance Cortez’s Book Carmen Lomas Garza, I was instantly drawn to her 1988 oil on linen painting titled Tamalada. There is so much to observe and relate to in this piece. The image depicts Garza and her family making tamales in the kitchen. Everyone is working hard in the kitchen to make dozens and dozens of tamales, likely for a special event, all while doing it with a grin on their face. There is this beautiful “homey” and “cozy” atmosphere that surrounds the painting. That is an element I find very comforting throughout her works. In this piece in particular, she accomplishes this through her clever use of story telling and attention to detail. We see a large square table with a floral “mantel”, reminiscent of many Mexican dining tables. On the wall there is a painting of the last supper and a calendar, two items that are also common in Mexican households. I found those details in the back to be quite charming as I could picture this painting taking place in my own abuelo’s kitchen room. From there we have all the family members wearing bright and colorful clothings with fun and interesting patterns. I really appreciate these elements as they are used to bring life into the piece. None of these choices seem random or unintentional. Quite the opposite actually. All of the clothes seem specifically chosen for the person painted, as if she used her family for the actual reference. Once again, I could easily see my tios and tias wearing these garments as they prepare the tamales.
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