August 5, 2024
Artists

Artists create giant alebrije at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery


The prototype is brilliant. A blue, yellow and red black-footed ferret with black polka dots on its pink antlers and unicorn-like wings in the multiple bright colors of a butterfly.

The finished sculpture promises to be far more spectacular at 10 feet long from antlers to tail and 3 feet wide in the torso, extending to 7 feet across the antlers. The wings, which have not yet been added, will extend 6 feet from the body, according to measurements provided by the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, the project’s sponsor. The antlers and eyes will be illuminated when complete.

It’s an alebrije, a fantasy creature, Mexican artists Ruben Mica and Oscar Becerra Mora explained Friday, that was inspired by their visit to Fort Collins in December. The black-footed ferret, they learned, was one of two mascots used by the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, where they are completing a monthlong residency through April 4 as part of a community-driven exhibition titled: “Alebrijes: Mystical Beings, Fantastical Creatures.”

So, they chose the black-footed ferret as the base for their giant alebrije that will hang from the ceiling of the museum in a long-term display when it is completed.

Artist Ruben Mica shows off a prototype alebrije sculpture on Friday at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.

The artists are working onsite in the museum’s Woodward Special Exhibition Gallery from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most Tuesdays through Sundays, museum officials said. Community members are invited to watch and interact with Mica and Becerra as they create their alebrije. A free community celebration of the project is planned upon its completion, from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 4.





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