#muchwiderthanaline

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. 

Meet an international network of artists connected by their interest in vernacular traditions and indigenous knowledge

SITE Santa Fe was the scene of an extraordinary convergence last week as artists from Anchorage to Buenos Aires gathered for the opening of SITElines2016. 

The show, the only major biennial devoted to the Americas, is titled “Much Wider Than a Line.” Taken from Leanne Simpson’s Dancing on our Turtle’s Back, the phrase refers to territorial cross-connections that transcend national borders.  

Selected by a team of five curators, the 35 artists from 16 countries are united by interests in vernacular culture, indigenous voices, and natural materials.  

Identity, race, and borders are ongoing themes in the exhibition, where performance meets ritual, de-colonial practice meets social practice, and craft is high art.  

From top: Marta Minujin.Benvenuto Chavajay.Jorge González.Graciela Iturbide.Jonathas De Andrade.Pablo Helguera.Juana Valdes.Aaron Dysart.Maria Hupfield.Xenobia Bailey.

#JeffreyGibson’s “Like a Hammer,” 2016, mixed-media installation with robe, drum, video #Sitelines2016 #muchwiderthanaline #SiteSantaFe @site_santafe