A guest dispatch on cool things spotted at Art | Basel in Miami, from Kristen Philipkoski:
Mexican-born sculptor Margarita Cabrera lovingly recreates symbols of the plight of Mexican immigrants using ceramic or stuffed nylon and other fabrics. At the Aqua Art Miami hosted by in Miami, the Walter Maciel gallery exhibited Cabrera's felled, defunct, bicycle made out of stuffed, crinkled and stitched together nylon. The sculpture at first appears simple, but looking at it for more than a moment evokes sadness and affection for whoever may have abandoned this once-useful piece of machinery.
At their Los Angeles location, the gallery has also exhibited Cabrera's "Arbol de la Vida," a ceramic tractor covered with flowering vines. Similar works include a wheelbarrow, ladder, wheelbarrow and pick axe festooned with moths, butterflies and birds. Other nylon work includes the spilled contents of "immigrant backpacks," and household appliances like toaster, blenders and vacuum cleaners.
[Photo: Robyn Ross]
