UFO-inspired wooden creatures

Live AuctioneersAustin, Texas is full of unique little shops that sell antiques and artwork, gathered from artists all over the world. One store in particular, Mi Casa Gallery, has quickly become my favorite to visit, as it contains a large collection of museum quality religious and folk art from mainly Latin America. As soon as you walk in the front door you are bombarded with colors and the smell of potpourri, mixed in with aged wood. And immediately in front of you will be an assortment of imaginative, colorful, carved wooden creatures. They are called "Alebrijes". Alebrijes is a type of Mexican folk art that began in the 1930's, in the Oaxaca region. In that area, families claimed to have seen UFOs, which sparked their imagination, and led to them creating all types of wooden figurines of space men. They were painted with an array of bright colors, and completed covered in patterns and shapes. After people started buying the artwork, customers began asking to create other animals and creatures in the same style. As a result, today you can find everything from griffins to anteaters.The wooden creatures sold at Mi Casa Gallery are created by two brothers, Elvis and Arturo Castillo, from Oaxaca City, Mexico. It is a craft passed down through the generations of the Castillo family. Seeing their artwork myself, I am blown away by, not only the imaginative quality of the alebrijes, but the craftsmanship and detail. All are hand carved and painted by them and their family. Since they only sell to the U.S., they can be found exhibiting items all around the U.S. a few times a year.* Sadly, I haven't been able to find images large enough to post from them! The images below are an assortment that I have seen online, but are not work by the Castillo family.Artisans of Leisure BlogVecchiopedeMexican Art DealingMexican Art DealingMexican Art Dealing