Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island
This summer, we are thrilled to present our most ambitious art exhibit ever!
"Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island" is an awe-inspiring outdoor public art exhibit that features 16 Alebrije sculpture creations -- from 4 to 16 feet tall -- in the breath-taking natural environment of Raspberry Island on the Mississippi.
Dates: June 1 - October 26, 2025
Location: Raspberry Island, Saint Paul, MN, 55107
Alebrijes are a Mexican folk art of colorful and fantastical creatures, often the combination of multiple animals (for example, the head of a fox with the body of a goose, fish fins, and horse legs).
Alebrijes is pronounced: ah-leh-bree-hehs
BACKGROUND - CREATURES OF A DREAM WORLD
"Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island" will bring the imagination, fantasy, and creativity of the Mexican folk art of alebrijes to Minnesota!
Alebrijes were created by the famed Mexican cartonero (papier-mâché artist) Pedro Linares in 1936. That year, Mr. Linares fell deeply ill and experienced significant fever-induced hallucinations. During this experience, he described walking through a lush forest and seeing multi-colored and strange animals -- toads with butterfly wings, lions with fish faces, and so on. As he walked through this fantastical landscape, the creatures began shouting in unison "Alebrijes! Alebrijes! Alebrijes!"
After Mr. Linares recovered from his near-death illness, he began sculpting the creatures he saw in his dream, and gave them the name: Alebrijes.
And, thus, a new Mexican folk art was born!
growth of a dream
Since then, Mexico City cartoneros (papier-mâché artists) have developed their own unique alebrije creations -- each one wilder, more fantastical, and more creative than the last.
Since 2007, the Museo de Arte Popular (Mexico City museum of folk arts), has organized an annual parade of "Alebrijes Monumentales" -- large-scale papier-mâché alebrije sculptures.
In 2022, the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage -- a community arts organization based in West Chicago, Illinois -- organized the largest exhibit of Alebrijes Monumentales outside of Mexico in a park in the western suburbs of Chicago (Cantingy Park). This exhibit drew attention from across the state, and beyond!
In 2025, we are thrilled to partner with the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage to bring this amazing collection of Alebrijes Monumentales to Minnesota!
ALEBRIJES COME TO THE ISLAND
From June 1 through October 26th this year, we are thrilled to present "Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island," a fantastical outdoor public art exhibit featuring 16 large-scale papier-mâché creations.
Raspberry Island -- surrounded by the majestic Mississippi River, and at the intersection of St Paul's Downtown Cultural District, and the West Side neighborhood, home of the only officially-designated Latino cultural district in Minnesota -- is the perfect location for this other-wordly exhibit!
We invite you, your family, and your friends to join us!
Exhibit Dates: Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Sunday, October 26, 2025
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Friday, May 30, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Community Celebration: Saturday, June 14, noon - 5:00 p.m.
Mykel - Edgar Israel Camargo Reyes
Meet The Artists
LOCATION
Exhibit Address
Follow Us
Raspberry Island Hours
Mon - Sun
Daylight – 11:00 pm
GRACIAS
THANK YOU FUNDERS & PARTNERS
This project is the result of 5 years of ongoing support from, and partnerships with, the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Mexican Cultural Arts Alliance.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This work is funded in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislation appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Development support for this project includes the City of Saint Paul’s Cultural STAR Program.
Additional support is generously provided by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, Propel Nonprofits, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, GHR Foundation, the Mexican Consulate in Saint Paul, Friends of the Mississippi, the Ford Foundation, as well as anonymous donations.
In-kind support is generously provided by the Saint Paul Parks & Recreation Department, the Anderson Center at Tower View, and many community volunteers and partners, including the West Side Community Organization, the Neighborhood House, the West Side Boosters, Friends of the Mississippi River, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and many others.
Small business sponsorships and support provided by Mintahoe Catering & Events, El Burrito Mercado, Margarita’s Event Planner, UNO Branding, and Patagonia Visual Solutions.
