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Kory has broken her drawing arm and can't draw for awhile! Please read the news post below for updates!

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oh dang, I have heard of Al-mi’raj, but not Alebrije — I love them already! Tell me more… and can anyone help with pronouncing their name?

Mexican here! Alebrijes started as creatures that appeared to an artisan in a fever dream, so he just started making them. They are just decorative art pieces, there’s no deeper cultural meaning to them. Coco might have you believe they’re psychopomps, they are not. They’re just really cool art pieces that are part of the aesthetics of Mexican culture. They’re usually made from wood or paper mache. Some small ones have bobble heads/tails. You have have seen those little wooded turtles with bobbly heads that are very colorful, those are alebrijes too!
They may be based on real animals or imaginary ones. They often have lots and lots of dots as part of their designs.

What does “young” species even mean. Or more precise, how do new species even show up, since they don’t seem to evolve naturally, or at least not exclusively.

I think it means they came into existence through human spirituality much later than when the medallions stopped being made. Their effigies are still made and sold today at tourist shops around Mexico, so they’re far from being forgotten lore.

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