Alebrijes Mural, San Jose
Artist: Francisco Franco
Year: 2019
Commissioned By: Mezcal Restaurant San Jos茅
The title of this work is an homage to the brightly-colored genre of Mexican folk art, originating from fever-induced dreams of Mexican artist Pedro Linares, in the early 20th-century, a central feature of the imagery contained in the mural. Franco works with a deep sense of responsibility to his traditional Mexican artistic roots, while focusing on giving back to the community through his mural work.
The restaurant, Mezcal, where the mural calls home, is named after a traditional spirit of southern Mexico, based on the fermented and aged sap of the maguey cactus. Many sacred aspects of indigenous culture are represented in this mural, connecting the building itself to a rich history which originated in Mexico, but is still alive and well, taking on new form and significance in San Jos茅 today. Representing the mystical qualities of the mezcal is a 15-foot tall Nuestra Se帽ora Immaculada de Juquila, patron goddess of the maguey plant.
The deity is depicted growing out of a bowl of black clay pottery which has its own place in the spiritual lore of the Oaxacan region. The famous black mole, which is the signature dish at the restaurant, is represented in the mural as well, visually representing in a way a secret code, one that is shared by the Zapotec people, embedded in their collective DNA, that is made manifest through their artistic and culinary traditions. This rich imagery speaks the story of the various indigineous groups from these regions in southern Mexico that live in San Jos茅, along with the owners and workers of the restaurant Mezcal.
鈥淎lebrijes鈥� demonstrates the maintaining and celebrating of identity in response to pressures to assimilate. The retention of identity solidifies the connection to Oaxaca forming a bridge to San Jos茅 infusing it with the Zapotec culture broadening its prism of diversity. 鈥淎lebrijes鈥� is a visual reminder of the vibrancy of Indigenous life in the modern world, that it is not something of the past. That the Zapotec are not referred to as were 鈥� of the past 鈥� rather they are 鈥� present and living in full view. The worldview of the Zapotec portrayed through the mixing of the spiritual, traditional dress and crafts open the eyes of the unfamiliar to living and thriving people who are more than a curiosity and culinary genre.
(Description by Daniel Katra, SJSU, Art 174, Fall 2021, SJSU)
Year: 2019
Commissioned By: Mezcal Restaurant San Jos茅
The title of this work is an homage to the brightly-colored genre of Mexican folk art, originating from fever-induced dreams of Mexican artist Pedro Linares, in the early 20th-century, a central feature of the imagery contained in the mural. Franco works with a deep sense of responsibility to his traditional Mexican artistic roots, while focusing on giving back to the community through his mural work.
The restaurant, Mezcal, where the mural calls home, is named after a traditional spirit of southern Mexico, based on the fermented and aged sap of the maguey cactus. Many sacred aspects of indigenous culture are represented in this mural, connecting the building itself to a rich history which originated in Mexico, but is still alive and well, taking on new form and significance in San Jos茅 today. Representing the mystical qualities of the mezcal is a 15-foot tall Nuestra Se帽ora Immaculada de Juquila, patron goddess of the maguey plant.
The deity is depicted growing out of a bowl of black clay pottery which has its own place in the spiritual lore of the Oaxacan region. The famous black mole, which is the signature dish at the restaurant, is represented in the mural as well, visually representing in a way a secret code, one that is shared by the Zapotec people, embedded in their collective DNA, that is made manifest through their artistic and culinary traditions. This rich imagery speaks the story of the various indigineous groups from these regions in southern Mexico that live in San Jos茅, along with the owners and workers of the restaurant Mezcal.
鈥淎lebrijes鈥� demonstrates the maintaining and celebrating of identity in response to pressures to assimilate. The retention of identity solidifies the connection to Oaxaca forming a bridge to San Jos茅 infusing it with the Zapotec culture broadening its prism of diversity. 鈥淎lebrijes鈥� is a visual reminder of the vibrancy of Indigenous life in the modern world, that it is not something of the past. That the Zapotec are not referred to as were 鈥� of the past 鈥� rather they are 鈥� present and living in full view. The worldview of the Zapotec portrayed through the mixing of the spiritual, traditional dress and crafts open the eyes of the unfamiliar to living and thriving people who are more than a curiosity and culinary genre.
(Description by Daniel Katra, SJSU, Art 174, Fall 2021, SJSU)
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Alebrijes Mural on Map
Sight Name: Alebrijes Mural
Sight Location: San Jose, USA (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Jose, USA (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Jose, California
Create Your Own Walk in San Jose
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Jose is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
San Jose Public Art Walking Tour
This walking tour, 鈥淧ublic Art as Resistance in San Jos茅,鈥� highlights the history of resistance and public art in downtown San Jos茅 and begins on the urban university campus, San Jos茅 State University. Starting from the first two works of art on campus, you鈥檒l find that these 12 works of public art are among many in this area. However, this particular walking tour considers how San... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.0 Km or 3.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.0 Km or 3.7 Miles
San Jose Downtown Walking Tour
San Jose is California's third-largest city and the second-largest city in Northern California. From 1849 to 1851, San Jose served as the state's first capital, which is still a local source of pride. The city has formally incorporated in 1850 and has been a center of innovation from the late 19th century, starting with agriculture and food processing.
During World War II, several... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
During World War II, several... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles