#margarita cabrera

Immigrants embroider their stories on incredible cacti sculptures, made from decommissioned border-control uniforms 

Margarita Cabrera calls her growing field of soft cactus sculptures “Space in Between–Saguaro,” a reference to the term in the Aztec language for in-betweenness. That space is the border. 

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, and now living in El Paso, Texas, Cabrera worked with immigrants in both countries to transform decommissioned uniforms into canvases for personal expression in the form of cactus species like nopal, saguaro, and agave. On the green fabric, the women embroidered their stories and their observations from life, national symbols, and personal objects. 

The works, made in collaboration with Maria Lopez, are part of the Biennial exhibition at SITE Santa Fe, “Much Wider Than a Line.” 

The piece is open-ended: currently, members of the local community are working with the Santa Fe Art Institute to create their own cacti. The new sculptures will be added to the show as participants complete them.