Carmen Lomas Garza

Carmen Lomas Garza creates Chicano familial artworks that represent culture and heritage. Her paintings were large and detailed and her use of oils and "mastery of gouache" created vivid and vibrant images. In Garza's first solo exhibition, she included paintings based on her childhood memories such as the artwork Tamalada (1988). This image shows how much effort was put in into making tamales and this image was meant to portray a memory of her childhood home. This scene is relatable, at least in my life. When my mom would make tamales, everyone had a role. My sisters and I would wash las hojas and take the little red hairs off. My mom would prepare la masa and my tias would get the masa and spread it over the hojas. My dad would help my mom prepare las salsas, and my tios would sit in the living room with the smaller children.Garza's image shows this scene, but how she experienced it with her family.



Tamalada and other of her artworks, such as Sandia/Watermelon, are Garza's childhood memories, but viewers can also relate to her work. Going through her images, reminded me of my childhood. There are so many similarities in her memories and in mine.