LHS students were caught in Ms. Isabel Navarro's Spanish classes finishing up their Mexican Alebrijes.
The story of alebrijes begins with Pedro Linares López, a papier-mâché artisan in Mexico City. In 1936, when he was 30 years old, Pedro fell seriously ill with a high fever and slipped into a deep, delirious state.
During this illness, he had vivid, fantastical dreams.
In these dreams, he found himself walking through a strange forest where he encountered bizarre creatures that didn't exist in the real world—donkeys with wings, roosters with bull horns, lions with eagle heads. These impossible animals surrounded him, all shouting the same word over and over: 'Alebrijes! Alebrijes!'
When Pedro finally recovered from his illness, he couldn't forget these extraordinary creatures.
As a skilled craftsman, he decided to bring them to life using his papier-mâché techniques. He created colorful, fantastical figures adorned with intricate patterns and wild animal combinations.
Pedro called these creations 'alebrijes,' the mysterious word from his fever dream. His work eventually gained recognition, and in the 1980s, the tradition spread to Oaxaca, where local wood carvers began creating their own versions in carved and painted wood (called 'alebrijes oaxaqueños').
Today, alebrijes are one of Mexico's most beloved folk art forms, celebrated annually in Mexico City with a grand parade.
Pedro Linares López received Mexico's National Prize for Arts and Sciences before his death in 1992, cementing his legacy as the creator of these magical creatures born from a fever dream.
His legacy lives on through his family, who continue to make alebrijes and other cartonería works. The tradition is now a staple in Mexican folk culture, linking fine art and folk art.
Alebrijes have become a beloved and iconic part of Mexican culture, widely used in festivals, decor, and celebrations like Day of the Dead.
Today, you can find these brightly colored, fantastical folk art Alebrijes in the 2017 Disney movie “Coco.'
(Story provided by Cristal Isaacs)