“Arbol de la Vida” (Tree of Life) by Margarita Cabrera is currently on exhibit at the Walter Maciel Gallery. The sculpture is a life-sized replica of a John Deere tractor made entirely from slip cast ceramic.
The foundation for this piece is steeped in Mexican tradition. The story claims that a storm god planted a giant tree that bore fruit in a complete drought. The story is still told through crafts forming the tree from metal with hanging ceramic birds and insects.
In the version presented by Cabrera, the tree has been replaced with a tractor. This irony is presented to call attention to dying art forms and cultures due to globalization.
It’s always nice to see an artist switch medium and still remain effective. Witness this hand sewn vinyl Hummer, an earlier work by Margarita Cabrera.
Margarita Cabrera
Arbol de la Vida
28 June – 16 August 2008
Walter Maciel Gallery
Los Angeles
I love both of these. Soft Hummer like Soft Toilet etc. by Oldenburg! I like that the Hummer has its own set of real wheels. Wouldn’t it be fun to pull it around?