En Mi Familia / In My Family
Austin Children's Museum
February - August 2009
The children’s museum recently opened a new permanent exhibit based on Garza’s art. Called “En Mi Familia/In My Family,” the exhibit features familiar paintings like “La Tamalada” and transforms them into three-dimensional scenes that invite visitors to explore the art, music, food and language of Mexican-American culture. For example, in the La Tamalada scene, children can “make” tamales with cloth, smell the ingredients and watch a video about tamale making.
En mi familia/In My Family was developed by ACM in collaboration with Carmen Lomas Garza. It was first featured at ACM in July 2003-January 2004. Since then, the exhibit has traveled to seven other children's museums across the nation. Now the exhibit is back "home" to stay as a permanent exhibit.
En mi familia/In My Family brings four of Carmen's vibrant paintings to life, each depicting loving childhood memories of the artist's life growing up in Kingsville, Texas.
Climb into Carmen's World
Based on painting Camas para sueños (Beds for Dreams)
Enter Carmen's world!
* Climb on her bed and flip through her book of family pictures.
* Make a wish for your own dream for the future in the fanciful dream chair.
La Tamalada/Making Tamales
Based on painting Tamalada (Making Tamales)
A kitchen scene where the family is gathered making tamales together for the holidays.
* Practice making tamales using fabric tamales.
* Watch a video of people making real tamales!
Birthday Barbecue
Based on painting Barbacoa para cumpleaños (Birthday Barbecue)
Join in the party!
* Try your hand at the piñata. Fill it with treats and watch them spill out.
* Put together a papel picado puzzle design (Mexican paper cut outs).
* Sit down on Grandma's lap and read more stories from Carmen's childhood.
Dance at El Jardín/Baile en el jardín
Based on painting Baile en 1958 (Dance in 1958)
Dance to the rhythm of the accordion at this dance under the South Texas stars.
* Make music with the band and dance along.
* Pick an instrument to play - the drums, guitar or stand-up bass.
* Dance! Follow the lead of the dancers in the video and see if you can learn some steps!
For more information about the exhibit visit www.austinkids.org
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