Note: All alebrijes are hand carved in copal wood and also hand-decorated with easy-to-clean acrylic paints.

Wood treatment: Wood used to make alebrijes is boiled in big containers of water which sterilizes the wood. Wooden alebrijes are made in San Martin Tilcajete Oaxaca - Mexico.

Oaxacan Woodcarving

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Florencio Fuentes

_{One has to give shape to the wood through the imagination. The more parts a piece has the more alebrije it is.}

Hi. My name is Florencio, born in a community called San Martin Tilcajete which is located to the south of Oaxaca City.

Ever since my childhood I have been making wood carved figures as a pastime. With the passage of time through my creativity my own design was transformed into formal work which gives me great pride and satisfaction.

All my family members spend part of their time carving wood after their other daily other activities such as school and everyday chores. By 1992 I had become a professional woodcarver and my work was exhibited in the “Arte Latino’ gallery where people could appreciate what many had never seen about Oaxaca Wood Carving.

So, they got to know and appreciate my work more. Later I was invited to give talks and organize exhibitions at some schools. This was a truly great experience.

Part of my work is to project myself onto the international market as a wood carver and that is why I am working with OAXACAN to achieve this goal.