Riot of art, craft to march through Mexico City for annual Alebrijes Parade
Mexico City, Oct 19 (EFE).- The Mexican government announced Tuesday a weekend display of 220 folk art sculptures of colorful giant mythical creatures through Mexico City.
The authorities said the 14th edition of the monumental Alebrijes Parade, organized by the city’s culture ministry through the Museum of Popular Art (MAP), will depart from the Zocalo at noon on Saturday.
“These alebrijes are a sample of the cultural richness that has opened the doors of Spain, Paris, Germany, and many other countries for these artists,” museum director Walther Boelsterly told reporters.
According to Boelsterly, more than 220 monumental alebrijes will depart from the Zocalo and will travel along the 5 de Mayo, Juárez, and Paseo de la Reforma avenues.
They will conclude their journey at the Angel of Independence roundabout, where they will remain on display until the first week of November.
Boelsterly said the parade would include pieces of master craftspeople from Mexico City and Aguascalientes, the State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tlaxcala. and Quintana Roo states.
He said all the alebrijes in the parade would also participate in a competition, whose results would be announced Saturday.
“The jury will rate originality, manufacture and color to give 60,000 pesos (about $3,000) to the first place, 40,000 pesos to the second and 30,000 pesos to the third. In addition, an economic stimulus of 10,000 pesos will be granted to 11 works worthy of special mention,” the museum director added.
Over the years, the parades have featured the creations of thousands of artists, who have given life to various fantastical animals with claws and wings and in all possible colors.
Alebrijes were created by artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992) in the 1930s.
The art has evolved since then to include not only paper and cardboard as raw materials but also fiberglass and other elements, in addition to incorporating techniques such as robotics. EFE
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