Every year the Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City sponsors the development of alebrijes (ah-lay-BREE-heys). They are paraded down the main avenue and installed for public viewing for about a month (late October through late November). This year the show had the theme of everything this year in Mexico: the bicentennial/ centennial celebrations. We found the monsters less spontaneous and wonderful than last year, but they are still amazing! We took Guita downtown on Saturday afternoon and discovered, to our shock, that we weren't the only people in a city of 23 million out enjoying life on a beautiful Saturday afternoon!
Guita was enthusiastic about getting to see the monsters! She also liked the smells, the cars, and all the little kids who saw her and wanted to be friends.
Lots of the monsters were carrying these tablets. I would put money on it being related to bilking the oppressors in one or other of the major wars remembered this year, but I don't know the history.
I love this dragon - look at its boots! And check out the detailed paint on its wings....
Cotton candy for the kiddies! Imagine how he smells by the end of the day!
Hecho en Mexico! Check out the mustaches on this guy! The first half of the monsters we looked at seemed more loosely tied to the Revolution and independence than the second side.
We both loved this one!
This is "La Guera Rodriguez," an independence-era heroine. Recently there have been billboards all over our commute plastered with a goofy-looking historical docu-drama about her.
Guita had a great time exploring this aspect of her culture!
The winner of the People's Choice award!
Details on the People's Choice installation.
Some had beautiful faces!
There were loads of trains - some more stylized (and harder to identify) than others! The railroads were hugely important in the 1910 Revolution.
I love the picture of you and Guita! She is smiling!
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