For more information: An imaginary world of hybrid animals
Inspired by the Zapotec calendar,
eight monumental sculptures fill the Garden with color and wonder this spring and summer
April 10 – September 7, 2026
Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG) continues its now annual tradition of presenting monumental works of art within its forests and fields with Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, on view April 10 through September 7, 2026. Created by the workshop of Mexican artists Jacobo and María Ángeles, brightly colored and richly patterned sculptures depict imaginary hybrid animals that act as both spirit guides and astrological embodiments of human character. Inspired by the Zapotec calendar, the exhibition features eight large sculptures organized by Denver Botanic Gardens. Its presentation at SBG is made possible through the generosity and vision of the KHR McNeely Family Foundation.
The Oaxaca-based duo was inspired by an ancient Zapotec stone calendar on view in the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca. Indigenous to southern Mexico, Zapotec culture is deeply connected to plants, seasons, and animals. The artists explain: “A Zapotec legend tells that on the day you were born, a little animal came running or flying—your protector in this world. This animal is your tona, a creature with whom you share your destiny and soul. In addition to your tona, you have a nahual determined by your birth year—this creature is a spirit animal with personality traits similar to yours.”
The Ángeles team used this as an imaginative jumping-off point for their own interpretations of the calendar and zodiac, filling in the blanks with their own mythical creations. For example, cranes and camels are included in the exhibition but are not featured in Zapotec cosmology—instead, the artists chose to depict them for their dynamic shape and form.
The fiberglass sculptures included in the exhibit are monumental, at nearly eight feet tall and up to nine feet wide and four feet deep. They were created through a multistep process that includes conceptual sketches, renderings of small wooden sculptures and fiberglass casting. Artisans at the workshop then paint the sculptures with colorful, intricate geometric patterns inspired by Zapotec and other Indigenous designs, each with their own unique meaning.
Integrated throughout the exhibition, QR codes connect visitors directly to the Bloomberg Connects app, offering free, expert-curated content that provides deeper insight into the artworks, plants, and cultural context. Bilingual interpretive signage highlights the rich plant diversity of southern Mexico and its deep relationship with Indigenous peoples spanning thousands of years.
Complementary summer programs—including Acoustic Sunsets, Sunday Funday, and Noche Latina—extend the experience beyond the landscape, bringing music, culture, and community together in the Garden.
“Spirit Guides reminds us that gardens hold memory, spirit, and wisdom,” says Jeannie Perales, Executive Director, SBG. “This dynamic exhibition invites us to experience the Garden not simply as a landscape, but as a living place of connection—one that reflects and welcomes the rich cultural diversity of Sonoma County and beyond.”
