Dante the dog in Pixar’s “Coco” may have put ‘alebrijes,’ or spirit animals, on the big screen, but Jara Avila has been dedicating much of her time to crafting the intricate patterns of these mystic creatures.
Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, Avila presented the artform’s painstaking method to her workshop guests at Ricardo’s Nursery in North Long Beach over the weekend. She talked about the history and folklore of the alebrijes and how the entire town Arrazola dedicates itself to perfecting these sculptures.
It can take several weeks for artists to complete larger pieces in a process that involves carving down a specific mystical animal from a copal tree, to sanding, smooth and, ultimately painting. It’s this last step that artists embark on a journey, with their brush as their guide, to develop elaborate patterns and designs. No two alebrijes are the same.
Avila’s workshops are over, for now. The reaction from the public was so great it has moved Ricardo’s to schedule similar events for the coming months.
For folks who can’t make their own just yet or just want one now, Avila’s completed alebrije figurines are available for purchase all week at Ricardo’s.
Ricardo’s Nursery is located at 6850 Atlantic Ave. You can contact them at 562-428-7252.