Alebrijes Oaxacan Paper Mache Animals
objective: students will create fantastical creatures following the oaxacan traditions including the use of elements & principles of art and design.
history:
Alebrijes are brightly colored Oaxacan-Mexican Folk Art sculptures of fantastical creatures. The first alebrijes, along with use of the term, originated with Pedro Linares. In the 1930s, Linares fell very ill and while he was in bed, unconscious, Linares dreamt of a strange place resembling a forest. There, he saw trees, animals, rocks, clouds that suddenly turned into something strange, some kind of animals, but, unknown animals. He saw a donkey with butterfly wings, a rooster with bull horns, a lion with an eagle head, and all of them were shouting one word, "Alebrijes". Upon recovery, he began recreating the creatures he saw in cardboard and papier-mâché and called them Alebrijes.
His work caught the attention of a gallery owner in Cuervanaca, in the south of Mexico and later, of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
A more recent phenomenon involving alebrijes is the annual Monumental Alebrije Parade, which has been sponsored by the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City since 2007. The 2009 parade feature more than 130 giant alebrijes made of wood, cardboard, paper, wire and other materials. Entrants are made by artisans, artists, families and groups, and each year the entrants have gotten bigger, more creative and more numerous.
His work caught the attention of a gallery owner in Cuervanaca, in the south of Mexico and later, of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
A more recent phenomenon involving alebrijes is the annual Monumental Alebrije Parade, which has been sponsored by the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City since 2007. The 2009 parade feature more than 130 giant alebrijes made of wood, cardboard, paper, wire and other materials. Entrants are made by artisans, artists, families and groups, and each year the entrants have gotten bigger, more creative and more numerous.
Steps:
First, you will need to create a sketch! You must bring 2 or more different animals together to form a unique creature. Think about their bodies, characteristics, and details. Include wings, feet, arms, tails, claws, etc. This should be detailed!
Next, you will need to create an armature. An armature is a metal framework on which a sculpture is molded with clay or similar material. Your armature can be made with wire, tape, newspaper, and other objects to portray your sketched idea. A demonstration will be shown in class.
Paper Mache- French or "chewed paper", is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste. The traditional method of making papier-mâché adhesive is to use a mixture of water and flour or other starch, mixed to the consistency of heavy cream. You will be mixing your own materials and laying them on to create a full body for your alebrijes!
Once your armature is dry, you can begin to decorate and paint it in the style of the traditional alebrijes. Though no two are exactly alike, all alebrijes have startlingly vibrant color markings. They feature detailed patterns of stripes, dots, geometric shapes, flowers, and flames. Many have bodies with exaggerated, twisted contortions. Their faces exhibit expressions ranging from peaceful and playful, to suspicious and sinister. Plan on utilizing intensive colors and intricate patterns.