BY SUZY STUMP for WEEKLY VOLCANO 10/17/25 |
The word “alebrije” is totally made up. Technically it was a product of a literal fever dream full of imaginary characters. More on that in a moment. The Alebrije Project has arrived on Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue as a self-guided walking tour including ten stops, each featuring unique alebrijes created by local artists and displayed in partnership with the Sixth Avenue Business District.
Alebrijes are a papier-mâché artform created originally by Pedro Linares in 1936 after an illness in which imaginary animals appeared to him while he was in a coma. They chanted, “Alebrije alebrije alebrije.” When he recovered, he started creating these captivating figurines and a new tradition was born.
The first stop on the Tacoma tour of exhibits is at Sixth and Alder Apartments, located at 3118 Sixth Avenue. The featured artist is Hugo Cruz-Moro, who was born in Havana, Cuba, and shaped by the cultural and political shifts of the Cuban Revolution. After immigrating to New York City at twelve, he built a career in advertising and publishing before earning his MFA from Florida International University in Miami. His work has appeared in major exhibitions, including the IX Havana Biennial and the First Ghetto Biennial in Haiti. Now living in Tacoma, Cruz-Moro continues creating from his home studio.
Next on the route is Grit City Books at 3116 Sixth Avenue, which presents the work of Elora Blessing, a queer Tacoma-based artist with a background in design and digital illustration. Her artistic practice blends contemporary design sensibilities with expressive visual storytelling.
At Honey Salon, 3114 Sixth Avenue, the featured artist is Sunshine Rebecca Littleton. Her work focuses on color, whimsy, and imagination, with roots in papier-mâché and community-centered art. Her alebrije honors the memory of her beloved cat and serves as a heartfelt tribute to love, memory, and playful spirit in connection with the Día de los Muertos celebration.
The Hippie House, 3109 Sixth Avenue, features Wiley Reid, a Tacoma artist with Southwestern roots and a background in printmaking. His practice is informed by his interest in history, ecology, and religion, as well as his experiences of agrarian life. Reid holds a BFA in Printmaking from the University of North Texas and works primarily in drawing and mixed media.
At Wild Orchid, 3023 Sixth Avenue, the featured artist is MyHanh Pham, known professionally as 8bitsweetie. She is an illustrator from the Greater Seattle area who uses art to explore and better understand the many cultures that form her background and lived experience. Her goal is to create work that brings joy and makes the world a little brighter.
Tacoma Frame Makers, located at 3011 Sixth Avenue Suite C, features the work of four artists.
* Kcie Monk is a fantasy illustrator from Tacoma who works in multiple mediums, including digital art, watercolor, acrylic, and ink. Her art combines natural and fantastical elements, drawing inspiration from the Pacific Northwest and her two-year stay in Sapporo, Japan.
* Alex Barr is a professional comic artist who enjoys vivid colors, cooking, and the beauty of the desert.
* Frances Lorenz and Helen Milus collaborated on a shared alebrije. Frances studied art at North Texas State University before becoming a bilingual educator. Helen Milus, director of education for Tacoma Sister Cities, became interested in papier-mâché after participating in a 2024 workshop with Croatian artist Nives Cicin-Šais. Helen built the body of their creature, and Frances added wings, a parrot head, and paint. Together they created a “nearly extinct spotted flying parrot.”
* Tobes Heavin and family were drawn to the project after seeing a call for artists and decided to turn it into a family activity. Their concept began as a joke about combining a corgi and an axolotl, but it evolved into a playful sculpture they named the “Corgiotl.” The family describes it as shaped like a corgi with the head of an axolotl, colored with sea-inspired tones. Their statement expresses affection for Tacoma and gratitude for the opportunity to take part in a community art project.
Across the street at Tacoma Bike, 3010 Sixth Avenue, artist Roberto Sanchez presents an alebrije bunny with monarch wings. His work represents the harmony between earth and spirit. The bunny symbolizes good fortune and renewal, while the monarch wings honor ancestral guidance. Together they represent a balance between life and memory—a reminder that each step forward is supported by those who came before.
The next stop is Tapco Credit Union at 2802 Sixth Avenue, where Jose Orantes is featured. A Guatemalan artist who moved to Seattle in 1978, Orantes has exhibited his work across the United States, Central America, and South America. He has been part of community mural projects through the Washington State Arts Commission and is known for his colorful animal masks and hats created for Bumbershoot and other festivals. Over time, his papier-mâché masks have evolved toward realism, reflecting both the characteristics and spirit of each animal.
At Hi-Voltage Records, 2714 Sixth Avenue, the featured artist is Mizu Sugimura, a mixed-media and collage artist of Japanese-American ancestry. She is also a long-time community volunteer whose art explores the intersection of family history, community, and social justice.
The final stop on the Alebrije Project tour is Alternative Back Care, 2315 Sixth Avenue, featuring Maila Cervania, a digital artist based in Tacoma. Her decorative work is influenced by art nouveau and stained glass, incorporating floral and seascape themes.
This exhibit is part of a larger Día de los Muertos Festival happening on Sixth Avenue and Anderson Street on October 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Nov. 1 the alebrije sculptures will be auctioned off at the Amor Eterno Ball at the Avelon Ballroom. Tickets to the event can be reserved at TacomaCienfuegosSisterCity.org.
Visitors can also take part in the Alebrije Project by touring the participating businesses, snapping a selfie with their favorite alebrije, and posting it on Instagram. To make your vote count, tag @TacomaLoyal, which also enters you into a surprise giveaway! Artists with the most votes get prizes.
