Downtown Houston is about to get a little more magical.

Beginning September 15, visitors to Discovery Green will be able to encounter eight towering, 20-foot sculptures inspired by Mexican folklore, magical realism and the fantastical creatures known as alebrijes and nahuales.

Alebrijes & Nahuales/ Courtesy of Discovery Green 

 

The free public art installation, Fantastic Animals from México: Alebrijes and Nahuales, will be on display through October 18, transforming the downtown park into an outdoor gallery filled with colorful creatures that are as whimsical as they are rooted in centuries of Mexican cultural traditions.

And the timing could not be better. Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15, making the exhibition an especially fitting way for Houstonians to celebrate Mexican art and culture while enjoying one of downtown's most popular gathering places.

The eight sculptures were designed and created by Mexican artists and represent powerful animal guardian spirits and mythical figures rooted in Mesoamerican folklore. Each giant sculpture is an enlarged reproduction of an original work by a celebrated Oaxacan artist.

Alebrijes & Nahuales/Courtesy of Discovery Green

Visitors will find everything from an intricately patterned Armadillo and a whimsical Catbird to a mystical Cat Nahual, a watchful Coyote and a skeletal Dog representing the soul's journey to the underworld.

The lineup also includes a smiling Happy Alien, a powerful LionBull and a colorful Rabbit surrounded by butterflies and flowers.

The sculptures aren't simply meant to be viewed from a distance. Their placement throughout Discovery Green gives visitors the chance to stumble upon the creatures while walking through the park, creating unexpected photo opportunities and moments of discovery.

Make a Day of It

Discovery Green will also offer free, hands-on workshops connected to the exhibition.

On Saturday, September 19, children and families can create Paper-Mâché Masks from 2 to 4 p.m. A second workshop, Small Alebrijes, will take place Saturday, September 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. Both workshops will be led by Mexican paper-mâché artist and folk-art creator Irving Mondragón Laguna.

For adults looking to extend the experience, three Houston restaurants will create special cocktails inspired by the sculptures.

The Grove, located at Discovery Green, will offer a cocktail inspired by the Catbird featuring tepache, pineapple tequila and burnt pineapple bitters.

At Xochi and Zaranda, both concepts from Houston chef Hugo Ortega, the Happy Alien inspires a colorful cocktail featuring blood orange liqueur, Amarás mezcal, pomegranate juice, lime and other ingredients. The $15 Happy Alien cocktail at Xochi will also support Discovery Green Conservancy, with $1 from each cocktail sold donated to the nonprofit.

Whether you're looking for a free downtown outing, a family-friendly cultural experience or a colorful backdrop for your next Houston photo, Fantastic Animals from México offers plenty of reasons to visit Discovery Green this fall.

The exhibition runs September 15 through October 18 at Discovery Green in downtown Houston. Admission to the public art installation is free.

For more information about the installation and related programming, visit Discovery Green.