Special to The Press-Enterprise
Few photographers in the Inland Empire have as prolific a body of work in fine and documentary photography as Jesus Garza, a resident of Riverside. Garza has pursued his love of critically observing and documenting the world around him since he was eight years old -- almost a half century.
As a photographer, artist and organizer, Garza's photography has been informed by his upbringing in the migrant labor camps of the Santa Clara Valley in the 1950s and '60s.
Reflecting on his cultural roots and the inherent power of a photograph to communicate and educate the public, Garza said, "From the beginning, my images have as their source my migrant farm worker heritage and my immersion in the dynamic political and artistic culture of El Movimiento, the political movement that emerged during the mid-60s seeking social justice. ... Through photography, I explored the dynamic Chicano culture of the (19)70s."
Over a long photographic career, Garza has turned the camera's eye toward many subjects -- always with a confident and insightful view about the "truth" within the subject. Garza's documentary photos are included in national exhibitions in addition to books, publications and collections.
Garza came to the Inland Empire when his wife, Dr. Ann Marie Leimer, accepted a professorship at the University of Redlands with expertise in Latin American/Hispanic/Chicano art in 2005. Previously, Garza lived in San Francisco and Austin, Texas.
Since arriving in the region, Garza has mounted two photographic exhibitions at San Bernardino Valley College and University of Redlands in the past two years. For more information about Jesus Garza, visit his Web site at www.jmmgarza.com
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For more information about the Artist Spotlight, please contact Daniel Foster, The Community Foundation at 951-684-4194 or DFoster@thecommunityfoundation.net.
As a photographer, artist and organizer, Garza's photography has been informed by his upbringing in the migrant labor camps of the Santa Clara Valley in the 1950s and '60s.
Reflecting on his cultural roots and the inherent power of a photograph to communicate and educate the public, Garza said, "From the beginning, my images have as their source my migrant farm worker heritage and my immersion in the dynamic political and artistic culture of El Movimiento, the political movement that emerged during the mid-60s seeking social justice. ... Through photography, I explored the dynamic Chicano culture of the (19)70s."
Over a long photographic career, Garza has turned the camera's eye toward many subjects -- always with a confident and insightful view about the "truth" within the subject. Garza's documentary photos are included in national exhibitions in addition to books, publications and collections.
Garza came to the Inland Empire when his wife, Dr. Ann Marie Leimer, accepted a professorship at the University of Redlands with expertise in Latin American/Hispanic/Chicano art in 2005. Previously, Garza lived in San Francisco and Austin, Texas.
Since arriving in the region, Garza has mounted two photographic exhibitions at San Bernardino Valley College and University of Redlands in the past two years. For more information about Jesus Garza, visit his Web site at www.jmmgarza.com
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For more information about the Artist Spotlight, please contact Daniel Foster, The Community Foundation at 951-684-4194 or DFoster@thecommunityfoundation.net.
