When I think of South Texas, one of the first things that comes to mind is its expansive skies. On my drives to and from the Rio Grande Valley, I’ve often been amazed by the sheer vastness and the ever-changing weather formations that create spectacular experiences. Imagine a stormy spring sky in Mathias, a sky full of Saharan dust near Alice, or a cloudy winter afternoon outside of Falfurrias. In many ways, this weather can be unpredictable. It is something you simply have to encounter to fully understand, and clearly, Jorge Garza is also invested in what South Texas weather presents. Both Sides of the Coin: Landscapes and Assemblages by San Antonio’s Jorge Garza showcases how this local artist appreciates south Texas landscapes and uses memory to create artworks with perennial quality.
In his studies, such as Morning Has Broken Study II, Garza captures a moment of sunrise where the sun’s reflections on clouds create an illuminating scenery. Garza’s painting portrays a fleeting, multicolored spectacle. In just minutes, the sun will rise higher, and the scene will change so that the clouds’ colors will look different. Like Impressionist artist Claude Monet, Garza renders sunlight expressively. Some colors are more broadly spread, while others, particularly the orange and yellow clouds, are laid with thicker strokes of paint.
Morning Has Broken Study III shows viewers how the sky has changed with time through different colors. The sun has risen further up, and the overwhelming majority of the sky is an intense burst of red, orange, and yellow in response. Looking at the low horizon line of this study, I am curious as to whether Garza paints water or land. Maybe that’s the point. Garza affirms that while inspired by South Texas, his landscapes are also left up to the viewer’s interpretation. In a flyer for this exhibition that was given to me by gallery staff, Garza asserts, “I hope to create a connection to a personal experience, place, time or relationship… unearthing past and present memories in my compositions, I hope the viewer can discover a part of him/herself within this body of work.”
It comes as no surprise, then, that none of the artworks in this exhibit have a year listed on their ID labels. The experience of these pieces feel nostalgic, as if, at any moment, these landscapes could come to us again. While many of the artworks are landscapes, I cannot forget to recognize Garza’s assemblages, which incorporate birds.
5 Cent Cigars and Two Old Crows is an assemblage where Garza juxtaposes linear stripes of color with imagery of handwritten notes, a receipt, rulers, and two American crows. The receipt and notes suggest documentation, transactions, and the passage of time, while the rulers evoke measurement, precision, or nostalgia for school and craftsmanship. Crows, often associated with intelligence, mystery, and omens, may serve as symbolic figures or personal markers of memory. In Texas, crows frequently gather on electric wires, a familiar sight in San Antonio. Garza’s work emphasizes how small, everyday experiences—rooted in the local landscape—leave lasting impressions. Linear stripes of color, similarly, may recall serape blankets. By layering these elements, Garza reconstructs memory, blurring the line between personal recollection and broader cultural meaning.
Both Sides of the Coin: Landscapes and Assemblages is on display at the Hunt Gallery in San Antonio until March 15, 2025.
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