TRACEY MAURER (San Antonio, TX)
Lotería De Comida – San Antonio FOOD Inspired Images
FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA 2021 Online Gallery

Tracey is a Texas native who has specialized in commercial photography for the last 28 years. She holds a BFA in acting from UT Austin and attended the graduate program at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. Tracey’s experiences in the arts and her work as a commercial photographer have given her a keen eye for inspired lighting & storytelling. She has built a successful business by bringing a creative edge to her photography and by maintaining high standards and quality.

Tracey’s FOOD photography has a creative edge that reflects her lifelong appreciation and support of the arts. Her background in Theatre has inspired her photographic lighting, set design and storytelling over the years. Tracey’s images have contributed to the success of custom marketing campaigns for her San Antonio, regional and national food industry clients. In addition to her commercial work, she has taught various food photography workshops at culinary seminars and at area schools. She has been a guest instructor for The Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio and The Art Institute of San Antonio. Tracey has also taught food photography workshops for the Texas Department of Agriculture through their Education Service Center & Child Nutrition Programs, The American Writers and Artists Association and the philanthropic culinary organization of women leaders known as Les Dames d’ Escoffier International.

Lotería De Comida is an original art-inspired project that started conceptually years ago when I was working on several food photography projects featuring Mexican cuisine in San Antonio and south Texas. I’ve always been intrigued by the cultural origins of food and how they relate to modern life. While increasing my understanding of Mexican food and it’s unique ingredients and after marrying into a caring Hispanic family in the 80’s, I naturally became involved in many other aspects of Mexican-American family life. As a long-time San Antonio resident, I am familiar with various cultural past-times including the south Texas appetite for bingo and it’s Mexican counterpart called lotería. After years of awareness and personal observations, I became more acquainted with lotería with its rich historical influence throughout Mexico and Europe. I fully appreciate how the game has inspired many artists throughout the centuries to create new and imaginative versions by utilizing their own unique and culturally inspired illustrations. My version, likewise, combines two iconic facets of our local & Mexican cultures: a distinctive cuisine and a beloved social pastime.

After much creative trial and error, Lotería De Comida emerged first as a series of canvas art images and then later as a reimagined San Antonio FOOD inspired lotería game – complete with a deck of 54 playing cards, 10 tablets (tablas), 54 poems (versos) in English and Spanish – and, of course playing instructions in both languages. Getting this off the ground in 2020 has been a challenging and rewarding experience. –Tracey Maurer

All Copyrights Tracey Maurer

Tracey Maurer
TMPHOTO LLC
https://www.tmphoto2020.com
https://www.loteriadecomida.com/  

Everything happens for a reason: Behind every photograph there is a story.

Patas De Pollo 
My husband and I were visiting his parent’s home in San Antonio for the first time in the 80’s and at one point I wandered into their kitchen where I found my mother-in-law eating something very strange. I confess, I may have actually gasped when I saw it. She was casually munching on what many would consider to be a delicacy: chicken feet. This, along with pigs feet, was a new concept for me and not one that I had ever considered trying. But I was told and not necessarily convinced, that it was tasty. I admired her conviction and all those who shared her viewpoint. The image of her that day stuck in my head and many years later I had to include “patas de pollo” in my lotería images. Her knowledge of traditional Mexican dishes and her skills as an amazing cook have left an impression on me and all those who enjoyed her cooking. I found this pair of feet at a market and prepared them using spices and baked them to perfection – verified by my brother-in-law who gladly agreed to be my guinea pig that day since I had never cooked patas de pollo before. I hope I made her proud. –Tracey Maurer