Alebrijes of your Dreams: An Alebrije making workshop

Important note: By purchasing tickets to this workshop series, you are registering to attend all 4 dates of this course. Participants should be prepared to attend each session date to get the most out of this workshop. Participants will receive email reminders directly from Evergreen. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Dates: October 8, 15, 22, and 29.

About the workshop

Alebrijes are fantastical and imaginative creatures that come from our dreams. They are a unique blend of animal, human, plant, and flower characteristics, whether living or dead. Pedro Linares, 'the Alebrijes creator, ' crafted them from paper mache, wire, and flour glue called 'engrudo ', materials that are deeply rooted in Mexican folk art and culture.
'engrudo' is a sight to behold with its vibrant colours and intricate decorations, sparking excitement and inspiration.
This workshop offers a hands-on learning experience. You will create your own Alebrije from scratch. You will start by building the structure with wire and then add the paper mache, painting, decorating, and varnishing it to protect the paint.
This workshop, led by Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro will guide participants through each step of the Alebrije-making process.

This is a four-week workshop, with 2 hours for every session. Tuesdays in October All Materials will be provided

Bio

Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro, a Mexican visual artist residing in Toronto's East End, embarked on her artistic journey in 2000, initially exploring photography and printmaking as her preferred mediums of expression. Her work is a vibrant celebration of Mexican folk art, often featuring her unique handcrafted alebrijes and fantastical creatures brought to life through paper mache. Her deep-rooted love for her cultural heritage and the natural world is a constant theme in her art.

With a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts from the Faculty of Arts and Design at UNAM in Mexico City and an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design from Centennial College, Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro has honed her skills and expertise in the field of visual arts. Her collaboration with Muse Arts since 2013 is a testament to her dedication and passion for her craft.

In 2019, Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro founded the Emotionart Collective art group. This transformative initiative brings intergenerational art workshops to different communities, such as Toronto Community Housing buildings, c.co-ops, and food banks. Ana's vision and dedication are bringing about positive change in these communities.
Parking at the Brick Works is paid, but we are also accessible by TTC and our free shuttle bus which departs from Broadview Station. For those planning to take the shuttle bus, please note that it departs Broadview station at 5:30pm, and the final departure from Evergreen Brick Works is 7:15pm. Please see our Getting Here page for more information.

By purchasing a ticket to this walk, you are directly supporting our free Good Mourning festival on November 2nd and 3rd! Check out "Together in Grief" on Nov 2nd to explore interactive art installations, performance, and conversation with community. Check out "Day of the Dead" on Nov 3rd to celebrate your ancestors with the Mexican and Latin American community.

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With any questions, please reach out to f[email protected]

Host or Publisher Future Cities Canada