What are these colorful, 'fantastic animals' doing in Fresno?

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - As you stroll done campuses successful Fresno, you whitethorn travel crossed a fewer thousand-pound sculptures towering implicit you and wonder— Where did these colorful creatures travel from?

Fresno State, Fresno City College, and Arte Américas person welcomed an accumulation that has made its mode astir the world, "Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals."

Officials accidental the interactive accumulation celebrates Mexican artesanos who make brightly colored sculptures from Oaxaca called nahuales and Mexico City, known arsenic alebrijes. Nahuales harvester 2 oregon much animals from the earthy satellite to make 1 retired of woodcarving, whereas alebrijes are made from papier-mâché and tin besides represent mythological beings.

The artwork displayed are reproductions of archetypal sculptures by featured artists and artesanos, but besides includes immoderate archetypal works of art. Each statue is crafted from fiberglass with an interior metallic armature and is said to basal astatine 20 feet tall, weighing astir 2,200 pounds.

One of the displays includes Mexico City's Leonardo Linares' "Lionbull," which tin beryllium seen successful beforehand of the Fresno City College Library. A peculiar facet of each grounds is that they are equipped with bright, multi-colored LED lights, producing a striking show erstwhile nighttime falls.

Anyone who would similar to spot Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals for themselves has until Dec. 7 to respect the taste exhibition. Those seeking much accusation tin sojourn the Arte Américas website.