Artist Talk | Margarita Cabrera
Artist Margarita Cabrera / Arbol de la Vida — John Deere Tractor Model #790, 2007, clay, slip paint, latex acrylic, and metal hardware, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of the artist. © Margarita Cabrera
Margarita Cabrera, Arbol de la Vida — John Deere Tractor Model #790, 2007, clay, slip paint, latex acrylic, and metal hardware, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of the artist. © Margarita Cabrera
Artist Margarita Cabrera
Artist Talk | Margarita Cabrera
Margarita Cabrera visits the Museum in celebration of her recent gift to the MFAH: her iconic sculpture Arbol de la vida — John Deere Tractor Model #790. Considering herself an artist and activist, Cabrera has spent two decades addressing issues of cultural identity, migration, violence, inclusivity, and labor. Her work stands at the intersection of contemporary art practices; Indigenous Mexican folk art and craft traditions; and U.S./Mexico relations. Cabrera’s art is often collaborative and engages diverse communities in its production. Her goal is to create social consciousness and empower all members of highly diverse groups, specifically the Latinx community.
Plan Your Visit Admission is free. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis in Lynn Wyatt Theater, located in the Kinder Building. On Wednesdays, the Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Safety Guidelines In the interest of your personal safety and community health, please observe all precautions set forth by the MFAH—learn more here.
About the Art Arbol de la vida (Tree of Life) sculptures convey the biblical story of creation. In Arbol de la vida — John Deere Tractor Model #790, Margarita Cabrera embellishes a life-size clay replica of a John Deere tractor with traditional Arbol de la vida elements: flowers, birds, and butterflies. By merging an emblematic agricultural tool with culture-specific craft forms, Cabrera references an industry heavily populated by Mexican immigrants, questioning the sociopolitical gap between production and consumption.
Learning and Interpretation programs receive generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services; Samuel H. Kress Foundation; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; Houston Junior Woman’s Club; Sharon G. Dies; Sterling-Turner Foundation; Susan Vaughan Foundation; and additional generous donors.