Alebrijes: Creatures of a Dream World
Something beautiful, unique, and truly awe-inspiring has arrived in Wheaton. Visitors will enjoy Cantigny Park's parkwide outdoor art exhibit featuring dozens of imaginary creatures inspired by Mexican folklore. “Alebrijes: Creatures of a Dream World”. They will be on display through October.
What is an alebrije?
The word alebrije—pronounced ah-leh-bree-heh—refers to imaginary creatures that possess elements from different animals. They originated from the vivid dreams of Mexican artist Pedro Linares. The artistic tradition of alebrijes gained popular exposure in the United States with Coco, the 2017 Disney/Pixar film.
Cantigny Stroll After Sunset, Instagram
Some 48 alebrije sculptures—some taller and wider than an SUV–arrived at Cantigny in early May. They were created by six artists from Mexico City who participate annually in the internationally known “La Noche de los Alebrijes,” a parade and festival in Mexico City for “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). The artists will be on site and stay in DuPage through early July, demonstrating their skills at the park and making appearances in the community.
A variety of events are scheduled throughout the summer and fall highlighting the unique art-inspired display.