9/12/09 Monica Garcia- Small Town Texas by Richardo Romo

As promised I went to an exhibit this time around. I was able to go to the Witte Museum and see Ricardo Romo’s series Small Town Texas. Some of us may know Mr. Romo as President of UTSA, knowing that fact I was interested in seeing what he put together. Before I saw the show I had an expectation that I would love the show because I am from a small town in West Texas. As I walked through the show and observed all the pieces I wasn’t feeling a connection with any photo. I felt as if there were any other pictures someone would take on a road trip. I wasn’t sure if it was the set up or maybe even thinking that the picture would look better in black and white only to give it that old feeling. The one I liked the most was Alpine-Ft. Davis this one picture I felt captured the essences of small town and the way of life. This one read complete because it had people in them and seemed to work well as a whole. The others I think were missing the people factor. Don’t get me wrong I love old building and what not but in all the other collages seeing buildings alone don’t read culture or way of life. I read them just as old buildings. I walked around quite a bit to make sure I wasn’t missing anything or maybe just looking at the work wrong. I did find some picture that I liked because of the way they were shot. Mr. Romo did state and I quote “I regret that I never really stopped to see what life was like in these small communities.” I think that is why I was expecting more because I wanted to see “life” and small town charm.