World-Class Art Installation Celebrates Mexican Culture and Sets the Stage for the Park’s Fall Programming Season
Mezcal Cocktails Inspired by the Exhibition to Be Served at The Grove, Zaranda and Xochi, With $1 From Every Cocktail Sold at Xochi to Benefit Discovery Green Conservancy
Discovery Green, Houston’s premier destination for community programming, will welcome Fantastic Animals from México: Alebrijes and Nahuales, a temporary public art installation featuring eight towering, 20-foot sculptures inspired by Mexican magical realism and Mesoamerican folklore. The exhibition will be on view at the downtown park from Tuesday, September 15, through Sunday, October 18.
“Fantastic Animals is a great representation of Discovery Green’s commitment to bringing world-class art to Houston and making it accessible for everyone,” said Kathryn Lott, president of Discovery Green Conservancy. “The installation is also the perfect way to kick off fall programming at Discovery Green, including our Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, such as México en el Corazón.”
Designed and created by Mexican artists, the vibrantly colored sculptures represent powerful animal guardian spirits rooted in Mesoamerican folklore. Inspired by the work of Mexico City artist Pedro Linares, who is credited with popularizing the fantastical creatures known as alebrijes, each sculpture is an enlarged reproduction of an original work by a celebrated Oaxacan artist.
The exhibition celebrates the exceptional craftsmanship of Mexican artists while highlighting the enduring cultural connections between México and Houston. From whimsical creatures to powerful animal figures, each sculpture offers visitors an opportunity to explore the stories, traditions and symbolism woven into Mexican folk art.
The eight sculptures include:
• Armadillo by Margarito Melchor: Protected yet approachable, the Armadillo features a shell bursting with vibrant patterns. Melchor pioneered Oaxacan woodcarving using everyday farm tools, infusing his work with the warmth of rural life.
• Catbird by Leonardo Linares: A whimsical fusion of feline grace and avian flight, Catbird perches as if ready to leap into the sky. Linares, grandson of alebrije originator Pedro Linares, carries on his family’s paper mache tradition while bringing a distinct magical personality to each creation.
• Cat Nahual by Angelico Jimenez: Inspired by the Nahual, a mythical shapeshifter in Mesoamerican folklore, this alebrije blends mystical energy with feline elegance. Jimenez, son of renowned artisan Manuel Jimenez Ramirez, is celebrated internationally for his contributions to Oaxacan folk art.
• Coyote by Efrain Fuentes: Drawing on Zapotec motifs found at Monte Albán, this proud, alert Coyote appears ready to guard the night. Fuentes’ intricate carvings reflect his deep connection to Oaxaca’s history and landscape.
• Dog by Adrian Xuana: Known as the “death dog,” this skeletal canine represents the soul’s journey to the underworld. With more than 40 years of craftsmanship experience, Xuana brings both reverence and striking visual impact to the sculpture.
• Happy Alien by Constantino Blas: With a grin as wide as the Milky Way, the Happy Alien invites joy and curiosity. The late Constantino Blas – once a farmer – became a nationally recognized sculptor whose playful imagination continues to inspire.
• LionBull by Leonardo Linares: Part king of the jungle and part beast of the field, LionBull conveys strength and stability. Its golden mane and intricate patterns symbolize courage and endurance in the face of challenges.
• Rabbit by Maria Jimenez: Gentle yet full of energy, the Rabbit is surrounded by delicately painted butterflies and flowers. Jimenez’s work blends artistry with the rhythms of farm life and has earned recognition throughout México and the United States
“With the sculptures placed throughout Discovery Green, visitors will have the opportunity to encounter these fantastical creatures as they explore the park, creating unexpected moments of discovery,” added Lott.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Discovery Green will host two free, hands-on workshops designed to introduce children of all ages to the creativity and traditions behind Mexican folk art. Two workshops will be led by Mexican paper mache artist and folk-art creator Irving Mondragón Laguna, while a third will be led by Discovery Green ambassadors. The workshops include:
• Paper Mache Masks: Saturday, September 19 from 2 – 4 p.m.
• Small Alebrijes: Saturday, September 26 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Throughout the installation, visitors can also experience Fantastic Animals through a series of special mezcal cocktails, or “spirit guides,” created by three Houston restaurants: The Grove, the New American restaurant from Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group; Xochi and Zaranda, concepts from James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega. The Grove is located at Discovery Green, Xochi is located on the ground level of the Marriott Marquis Houston, and Zaranda is located at Norton Rose Fulbright Tower.
“Oaxaca is a place of extraordinary cultural richness, where every region, every community and every tradition tells its own story,” says Chef Hugo Ortega. “The food, the art, the colors and the ancient traditions are all intertwined. For me, Oaxaca is not simply a place that inspires cooking, it is a living expression of Mexico’s incredible diversity and creativity, and I can’t wait to see Fantastic Animals filling Discovery Green!”
Inspired by Catbird’s grace and capacity for flight, The Grove’s cocktail combines house-brewed tepache, pineapple tequila and burnt pineapple bitters, topped with grated nutmeg and a burnt pineapple spear.
Xochi and Zaranda will feature a cocktail inspired by the Happy Alien, a vibrant combination of blood orange liqueur, Amarás mezcal, pomegranate juice, simple syrup, fresh lime juice and Scrappy’s Fire Tincture bitters. For every Happy Alien ($15) cocktail sold at Xochi, $1 will be donated to Discovery Green Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that operates and maintains Discovery Green.
# # #
ABOUT DISCOVERY GREEN®
Discovery Green® is a highly acclaimed 12-acre park in downtown Houston, Texas. Since opening in April 2008, the park has welcomed more than 20 million visitors. Discovery Green® features sprawling lawns, a one-acre lake, an interactive fountain, a playground, public art installations, gardens and an allée of century-old live oaks. The Discovery Green Conservancy works with hundreds of programming partners to present artistic, musical, educational, family-friendly and health-focused events each year, most of which are presented free to the public. The park also features two on-site restaurants, the award-winning destination restaurant The Grove and the fast-casual The Grove Market and Park Provisions, providing visitors with an array of dining options. As a nonprofit organization, the Conservancy raises all the funds needed for the programming that Houstonians enjoy. For more information, please visit https://www.discoverygreen.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: @DiscoveryGreenHouston
X (formerly Twitter): @DiscoveryGreen
Instagram: @DiscoveryGreen
Discovery Green. Reg. U.S. Pat. and Tm. Off.
