Mexico city declares alebrijes cultural heritage

The kaleidoscopic representations of fantastic animals known as _alebrijes_ were declared a cultural heritage of Mexico City on Saturday. The declaration was made by Leonardo Linares,

grandson of Mexican artist Pedro Linares, creator of the paper mache beasts. “Perdro Linares López contributed a new purpose to art and culture by revolutionizing paper mache with what he

himself called _alebrijes_,” Linares said at a small ceremony at the beginning of the annual _alebrijes_ parade on Saturday. “In doing so, he created not just the only folk art unique to the

old Federal District, he also made it so that they demand the same quality demanded of art in order to be categorized as authentic works of art . . . by which he left a cultural legacy for

Mexico and the world.” Anthropologist Marta Turok said that _alebrijes_ reveal the dynamic nature of tradition and urged society to have more respect for folk art and the work the artists

put into it. “One must look, one must learn, one must respect. Do not haggle, because what is haggled over is the value of the work. It’s not a game, it’s not a joke. It’s the lives of

entire families . . . It takes work, and that is what we must recognize and admire,” she said. Mexico City Culture Secretary José Alfonso Suárez del Real said that as of Saturday, October

19, “_alebrijes_ are a cultural heritage of Mexico City.” Formally beginning the city’s Day of the Dead festivities, Saturday’s parade featured more than 200 giant paper mache _alebrijes_,

which made their way from the _zócalo_ to the Angel of Independence monument on Paseo de la Reforma. They will remain on display on the medians of that avenue until November 17. Officials

estimated that about 45,000 people gathered along the route to watch the parade. An award ceremony for the winners of the _alebrijes_ parade will be held this Saturday. Creators of the

winning entry will receive 60,000 pesos (US $3,100). _Source: Milenio (sp) _