The City of Albuquerque recently announced that ABQ RIDE, Visit Albuquerque, and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center have partnered to introduce three new bus wrap designs that honor Pueblo culture and promote tourism. Tania Armenta, president and CEO of Visit Albuquerque, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with the City's Transit Department to bring the designs to the community, allowing residents to enjoy and appreciate the artwork.
“We were thrilled to work with Mayor [Tim] Keller and the City’s Transit Department to bring three of these designs home so that residents can enjoy and take pride in the beautiful artwork,” Armenta said in a July 12 news release from the City.
Visit Albuquerque worked closely with local artists and the City to bring the concept—which originally stemmed from an advertising campaign on Denver's light-rail system—to Albuquerque, according to the release.
“We worked closely with Albuquerque-based artists to create designs that are authentic to our city and that inspire travelers to plan a trip to Albuquerque so they can experience our one-of-a-kind art, cuisine, attractions, and events,” Armenta said in the release.
Each design draws inspiration from unique aspects of New Mexican culture, including the architecture of Old Town, pueblo pottery symbols, and Spanish Colonial artistry showcased through punched tin designs; the release said. The bus wraps aim to showcase the rich cultural heritage of New Mexico and engage both residents and visitors in appreciating the artistic beauty of the region.
“The collaboration for this project is special as it gives ABQ RIDE the opportunity to not only promote ridership, but also economic growth through tourism,” Leslie Keener, City of Albuquerque transit director, said in the release. “The Visit Albuquerque wraps allow our buses to stand out and create an inviting environment for residents who use ABQ RIDE daily or visitors exploring the City for the first time.”
Mike Canfield, executive director of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, also expressed approval of the collaboration.
“The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center was delighted to collaborate with our wonderful partner, Visit Albuquerque, on a train wrap that honors Pueblo pottery designs,” he said in the release. “We are happy that the Pueblo and two other ‘Authentically Albuquerque’ designs will now be displayed on city buses here in Albuquerque.”