Origen y desarrollo de los alebrijes

1. Oaxacan Animals
Folk Art of the Mexican State of
Oaxaca

4. The History of the Oaxacan Art
• In the 1930s, Pedro Linares broke from his
tradition of making pinatas and started creating
elaborate decorative pieces that represented
imaginary creatures he called alebrijes.
• The alebrije name is often used in reference to
the fanciful woodcarvings created by artists in
Oaxaca, Mexico. These popular folk art wood
sculptures are also known as animalitos, monos,
or simply figuras[3]. While most share the bright
colors and fanciful subjects popularized by
Linares work, individual artists generally have
very distinctive carving and painting styles.

5. About the hand-carved alebrije…
• The Zapotec Indians of the Oaxaca Valley in the
southern Mexican State of Oaxaca (pronounced Wah Ha
Kah) are the artists of this unique and intriguing art form.
The woodworking techniques and artistic capacity of the
Zapotec people have been refined over generations.
Carved from the Copal Tree when the wood is green,
this art comes from the three villages--Arrazola, San
Martin Tilcajete and La Union Tejalapan in the State of
Oaxaca. The wooden sculptures are hand carved then
hand sanded and hand painted in their characteristically
bright colors. Traditionally, the men are the carvers--the
carving is done during the "off" season for farming.
Many times, the entire family participates in the creation
of the carvings. The women are often the painters of the
decorative figures.

6. Alebrije
• Alebrije is the spanish name for fantastical
creatures, and is more commonly applied
to the hand-carved figures of the Oaxacan
folk artists in Mexico

7. Things to know…
• Line: a segment from one point to another
• Pattern: a set of designs or lines repeated
in a set
• Repetition: repeating one line or image
more than once
• Shape: a 2D design (stick figures)
• Form: a 3D design, to be seen from all
around (you are a form)

8. Color Palettes
• Warm colors
• Cool colors
• Complimentary colors
• Analogous colors

16. Story-telling
• Alebrije usually are based on a myth or a
folklore surrounding that creature. They
tell the story of how that creature earned
its characteristics. The colors and the
stance of the creature tells the story. What
will your story be?

17. Example story…
• This is “Bird Watcher” the
gato who sat outside
under the tree for years,
watching over and
protecting the family of
birds who rescued him
from a great flood. He
shows the characteristic of
perseverance and loyalty.

18. How to Make a Paper Mache
Animal…
• Build an Armature out of newspaper and
tape
–Armature: the base structure of a 3D
sculpture (the “Frame”)
• Make sure all parts are secure & smooth
• Cover the armature with strips of paper
mache
• Allow to dry
• Paint with patterns and designs

25. Now It’s Your Turn!!!
Get out those
sketchbooks and let’s get
to work!

26. Resources
• http://www.oaxacafinecarvings.com/
• http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/les
sons/middle/Lessons/7-alebrijes.htm