JMM Garza

The Cheech in Riverside asked me to edit their exhibition catalog blurb. So I did. Here it is, and it's quite concise.

Jesús Manuel Mena Garza

Born 1952 in San José, California | Lives in Fort Worth, Texas

Jesús Manuel Mena Garza is a photographer, artist, and cultural organizer whose work reflects his migrant farmworker heritage and engagement with the Chicano civil rights movement. He studied Journalism at San José State University with an emphasis on Photojournalism, where he became involved in Chicano student activism and media collectives. He then went on to work for Chicano film, theater, and radio organizations.

Garza consulted the San José Museum of Art for its first exhibition on Chicano Art in 1974. He has shown his photographs at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco; Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City; and Musée d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France; and for the proposed National Museum of the American Latino, Washington, DC. Along with exhibitions, his work has been widely published and serves as a resource for researchers, educators, and cultural institutions.

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Chicano Camera Culture: A Photographic History, 1966 to 2026 is the first major survey to examine the depth and evolution of Chicana/o/x lens-based image-making over the past 60 years. Featuring some 150 works by nearly 50 U.S. Chicana/o/x artists, the exhibition moves thematically and intergenerationally, spanning early activist photographers with contemporary artists whose work builds upon this powerful legacy.

I hope to see you at the exhibition reception on February 7th, 2026 from 6 to 9 pm, with tentative additional programming on the 8th.

The Cheech
3425 Mission Inn Ave.
Riverside, CA 92501

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

JMM Garza

10/20/2025 2:30 am, and another power outage. The Bluetti worked perfectly as a UPS. ❤❤❤

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

JMM Garza

Upcoming videos might be useful to those who take photos, shoot film or produce audio in the field. It's all about portable power.

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

JMM Garza

My last video with over a thousand views was posted almost a year ago. I am definitely not an influencer, but an old photographer with an opinion and a YouTube Channel. You are welcome.

I'll be in Southern California in February 2025. I look forward to meeting you at the reception. I will be a modest part of a show at the #CHEECH. Link below. #ChicanoPhotographer @ChicanoPhotographer

riversideartmuseum.org/exhibitions/chicano-camera-…

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2 months ago | [YT] | 1

JMM Garza

I have two videos coming out August 5th, 2025 on the Boya Magic wireless mic system. Check 'em out if you can. I do have a comment about their design. There was a learning curve.

4 months ago | [YT] | 1

JMM Garza

I saw this quartet hanging out near the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium. The guy to the right was giving a hair cut to the guy seated. Yes, it was a hot day in Brussels. They immediately started posing. #GrandPlace #Brussels #Belgium #Haircut #GooglePixel9a

5 months ago | [YT] | 2

JMM Garza

I am enjoying using my #GooglePixel9a for snapshots while playing tourist in Europe. Next time I'm bringing a pro level mirrorless. How about a #SonyA7CR with a wide zoom?

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5 months ago | [YT] | 2

JMM Garza

I've been traveling in Europe for over a month. It's been quite the experience. I'll be posting photos taken with my Google Pixel 9a as soon as I get back in a couple weeks. Thanks for your support.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 0

JMM Garza

My wife Annie and I just returned from grocery snack shopping. It's Thursday 8 pm. On the way back (we got lost) we noticed that these streets, bars and restaurants were packed and, I waved at several working girls. Annie noticed them first. The smell of mota permeates the air. Some bars are filled with the smoke. Amsterdam is an amazing place. Today, Annie and I spent most of our day at Amsterdam's largest park, Vondel Park. There, Annie enjoyed knitting and relaxing under the sun.

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6 months ago | [YT] | 1

JMM Garza

I've enjoyed spending several days in Prague. It's quite the Medieval Europe theme park. I posted my "Tourist" Prague pix on my RV & Travel Adventures website, NOT JMMGarza.com. Here's a link: rvta.myportfolio.com/google-pixel-9a-prague-czech-…. There is a comment page at the bottom of the series.

I used either a Google Pixel 9a or DJI Osmo Pocket 2 for video capture. What do you think? I'll be uploading some edited videos later this week. Thanks for watching @JMMGarza

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6 months ago | [YT] | 2