Baile

SFO
International Terminal
Gate G
Level 3
Post TSA

“Baile” – Copper and Powder Coated Steel – 1999 – Carmen Lomas Garza

The plaque on this piece reads:

This image of Mexican Flokloric dancers is inspired by the tradition of Mexican and Chinese tissue paper cutouts and French silhouettes.  As an artist, Carmen Lomas Carza often recalls her memories of growing up in South Texas as inspiration for her imagery  Shi is known for her portrayal of popular customs and events, from tamale-making to community fiestas.

Carmen Lomas Garza was born in Kingsville, Texas. At 13, she made a commitment to pursue a career in art and taught herself elements of drawing. Her works of art depict childhood memories of family and friends in a wide range of activities from making tamales to dancing to Tejano music. Garza has a bachelor’s degree in science from Texas A&I University (currently Texas A&M University, Kingsville) where she studied art education and studio art. She also has a master’s degree in education from Antioch Graduate School-Juárez/Lincoln Center and a master’s degree in arts from San Francisco State University, where she concentrated on lithography and painting in oil and gouache.

The artists statement for this piece:

When waiting passengers see the copper cutout Baile it is as if they are looking in through a window of an artist’s studio. The artist is painting an image of Jarabe Tapatio dancers from Mexico. The metal cutout was based on a paper cutout that was photographed, digitized, and cut with a high-pressure jet stream of water.