Open Air Gallery Returns to Civic Plaza for Route 66 Centennial — City of Albuquerque

As a part of Albuquerque’s Route 66 Centennial celebration, the Department of Arts & Culture is bringing again the Open Air Gallery to downtown’s Civic Plaza, that includes images and poetry impressed by the historic Mother Road. The public is invited to a free opening occasion on Sunday, May 31, from 4 to six p.m.

The exhibition, titled Sunday on Central Avenue, showcases Route 66 images by Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli, Jessica Roybal, and Gabriela Campos alongside poetry by Damien Flores and Levi Romero, mixing visible storytelling with the written phrase.

“Downtown Albuquerque has great potential to connect people through art,” stated Mayor Tim Keller. “We’ve invested in cultural experiences that visitors and residents alike can enjoy through the centennial.”

The exhibition enhances Centennial Roots, at the moment on view on the Route 66 Visitor Center, which additionally options images by Paolinelli, Roybal, and Campos as a part of the venue’s ongoing centennial programming. Flores serves as Albuquerque’s present poet laureate, whereas Levi Romero was named New Mexico’s inaugural poet laureate in 2020. Their work provides a literary layer to the exhibition.

“Bringing photographers and poets together for this exhibition creates a powerful conversation about Route 66 and the communities linked by it,” stated Arts & Culture Director Dr. Shelle Sanchez. “Through images and words, these artists celebrate the road that connects us all as it continues to shape Albuquerque.”

The exhibition is a part of the City’s broader Route 66 Centennial efforts highlighting Albuquerque’s inventive group and the enduring legacy of the Mother Road by means of artwork, exhibitions, performances, and cultural programming. The exhibition might be on view by means of the Route 66 Centennial.

For extra info: cabq.gov/artsculture