Sept 22 + 23, 2020 from 6:30-9:30
NVRLND (1048 21 Ave SE)
Try making your own Alebrije Mask with Mexican interdisciplinary artist Claudia Chagoya.
Alebrijes [aleˈβɾixes] are brightly coloured Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures, created after artist Pedro Linares fell ill and dreamt of these creatures that were yelling: “Alebrijes! Alebrijes!” Upon recovery he began recreating them, and they soon became a popular folk art form in all the country.
Using simple materials and a base form, participants will learn about Alebrijes and make their own fantastical mask using paper mache techniques.
Saturday Sept 19, 2020
Materials: newspapers or recycled paper, wire*, carton*, corn starch, water, brushes, tape, and paint. (* Optional)
Artist Facilitator:
Claudia Chagoya is a Mexican interdisciplinary artist born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and based in Calgary, Canada. CAOS is truly blessed to be working with Claudia as a Community Program Artist.
Claudia’s artistic practice explores topics related to gender violence and her socio-political background, through the use of materials rooted in Mexican culture tied to various rituals such as: rebozos, salt, copal and sawdust.
Her work has been exhibited in Mexico and in Canada. Also, she has been an artist in Residence at the Royal College of Art in London, UK, the Women’s Centre of Calgary, and by the end of 2020, Chagoya will be part of the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation Residency Program at cSPACE King Edward.
ALEBRIJES MASK MAKING WORKSHOP : Sept 22 + 23, 2020
Alebrijes at the Women’s Centre
CAOS sponsored Claudia to lead two groups of girls in Alebrijes Mask Making at the Women’s Centre as part of their wonderful “Girls Lead” program.
Pop-up Exhibition: Wear your Mask!
Wear Your Mask! Is a pop-up exhibition of masks created during “Making Alebrije Masks” workshops led by Claudia Chagoya in the summer of 2020. The masks were brought into public spaces where usually there would be events, but due to COVID-19 they have been cancelled. The masks were hung in the space, and photographed, then posted online as a form of digital exhibition.
Check out CAOS and Claudia’s Instagram to get a glimpse of these fantastical creatures in spaces like Prince’s Island Park, Stephen Avenue, Stampede Park, and others. Wear Your Mask aims to raise awareness in a playful way about wearing a mask during this pandemic, and also promotes the work of emerging artists to CAOS’s followers.