Carmen Lomas Garza: Sandia/Watermelon

In Carmen Lomas Garza, Constance Cortez discusses about Garza’s life and examines the meaning behind each of her paintings. Garza grew up in a Mexican American community in Kingsville, Texas. As a teenager, she went into a segregated school system where she experienced racial prejudice. Hence, her paintings mostly highlight the fact the despite racial discrimination and cultural conflict, the Mexican American community is able to sustain a rich and vital community, while practicing cultural family traditions. Furthermore, she also makes art and paintings from a political and social activist point of view, while telling the stories of her childhood experiences as a Mexican American.

One of the paintings that really stood out was Sandia/Watermelon, 1986. Garza painted a typical scenario on a summer evening, where her family enjoyed cold watermelon on their front porch. In this painting, Garza wants to portray familial unity and affection. This is depicted in her father who is cutting the sweetest part of the watermelon, which is its core or “heart”. This represents the parental role which shows great affection and care towards his family members, as well as history and culture. Love and harmony are also shown in Garza’s sister who is sharing watermelons with her grandmother. With this in mind, Garza wants to show that despite the racial discrimination against Mexican Americans, they are still able to spend quality time and enjoy one another’s company.