Presentations Week 4

Artist Margarita Cabrera grabbed my attention during the presentations this week. In particular, her sowing machine piece stood out for me. I appreciate the way she constructed the sowing machine, referencing gender roles. Women fix clothes, and as the result, they typically are associated with sowing machines. It is interesting that Cabrera constructed a sowing machine, considering that sowing machines in a way contribute to the “construction” of a woman’s role in society. Cabrera also created an iron, which similarly plays into gender roles and constructs. Cabrera’s “construction” motif creatively communicates how gender roles are formed.

            Cabrera’s other pieces provide meaningful messages. Her recreation of the Hummer caused me to consider the large amount of money and resources Hummers require. They are expensive, and their original purpose is military applications. In non-military use, they primarily communicate something about the person who drives one -- like the amount money they can spend on cars. I appreciate Cabrera’s attention to detail and her use of real materials.