(8 hours, 12 miles, 19 kilometers)
Is it the
shimmering light? The dramatic skies? For whatever reason,
people have always felt compelled to express themselves
creatively in Albuquerque. A tour of the city's art also
encompasses a great deal of its history, so closely are they
entwined. The very bedrock of this tradition is the Petroglyph
National Monument, the world's largest accessible collection
of prehistoric rock art. More than 17,000 ancient images adorn
this windswept volcanic escarpment west of the Rio Grande
Valley. No camping is allowed, but picnic shelters and water are
available. Four walking trails, from easy to moderately
difficult, wind through the petroglyphs.
Petroglyph National Monument is on Unser (Atrisco) Boulevard,
NW, at the foot of the lava flow. The park is open daily from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. September through March, and from 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. April through August. Admission: $1 per vehicle.
From Petroglyph Monument, head south and cross the Rio Grande by
going east on Interstate 40. Take Rio Grande Boulevard (exit
157-A) south to Mountain Rd. and turn left. You are now on the
edge of the Historic Old Town district. The bronze
equestrian statue at the corner of Rio Grande and Mountain
honors Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdes, who founded the Royal
Villa of Albuquerque in 1706. Don't miss this opportunity to
explore the many art galleries lining Old Town's romantic
streets and alleyways. On your way out of Old Town you might
want to stop by the Turquoise Museum as well.
A right on 19th Street brings you to the Albuquerque Museum
of Art, History, and Science. The museum houses permanent
exhibits on the history of Albuquerque, along with traveling
exhibits from around the world. The Albuquerque Museum is open 9
a.m.-5 p.m. except Mondays and holidays. Admission is free, but
donations are appreciated.
From Old Town, continue east on Mountain Road noting the bronze
dinosaurs in front of the New Mexico Museum of Natural
History & Science. A right on 12th St. and a left on
Lomas Blvd. leads you past innovative works of art designed to
act as bus stops. Note especially the "Blue Tile
Walls" at 11th and Lomas and the "Kolowisi"
sculpture at 8th and Lomas, both commissioned by
Albuquerque"s 1% for Art Program.
A right on 6th Street and a left on Central Avenue puts you on
the fabled Route 66 of song and story. Several treasures of art
and history reside in Albuquerque's downtown district. At 5th
and Central stands the historic KiMo Theatre. Originally
built to house vaudeville acts, the KiMo is an Art Deco
interpretation of American Indian motifs. Inside the lobby are
murals by Van Hassler and fanciful plaster ceilings worthy of
the great movie palaces of the `20s. The KiMo Theatre and Art
Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-Fri. Admission is
free, unless performances are taking place.
At 4th Street and Central, the Crossroads Mall
commemorates the major crossroads of the nation at Route 66 and
U.S. Highway 85. The monumental Crossroads sculpture points the
way north from Central through a shady avenue of shops and art
works to the Civic Plaza, with its massive public
fountain.
Not to be missed is the heroic bronze sculpture by well-known
Native American artist Alan Houser, which stands at 5th and
Marquette, a block west of the Civic Plaza. The "Art
Garage" at 5th and Copper houses several public art works
purchased through the 1% for Art Program. The Art Garage is open
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Fri.
Continuing east on Central Avenue, you will pass through Huning
Highlands, Albuquerque's first subdivision. The Huning
Highlands neighborhood features shady streets, gracious
turn-of-the-century homes, and specialty shops. The Special
Collections Library at Edith and Central is an architectural
gem built in the Pueblo Revival style with interior details by
Gustave Baumann. The Special Collections library also houses
another 1% for Art project, the Don Quixote Portfolio,
illustrated by several of Albuquerque's most successful artists.
The library is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wed., Fri., and Sat.,
12:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.
The University of New Mexico, which reaches from
University Boulevard east to Girard Boulevard along Central
Avenue, is home to several more stunning examples of the Pueblo
Revival-style of architecture popular in the early 20th century.
In addition, the university houses several excellent museums,
including the Fine Arts Museum (in the Fine Arts Center
on Cornell Ave.), the Jonson Gallery of Contemporary Art (1909
Las Lomas, N.E.), and the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
(University Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. NE).
These museums are generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
weekdays, and some have extended hours that change seasonally.
Please call ahead for times if visiting on a weekend.
Just across Central from the University of New Mexico is the Tamarind
Lithography Institute and Gallery, at 108 Cornell Avenue,
S.E. The Gallery is open 9 a.m.-.5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Tours are
offered on the first Friday of each month at 1:30 pm, including
a talk about the institute's history, a film on lithography, and
a printing demonstration. The tours are free, and reservations
are required (277-3901).
In the 1930s and `40s, Route 66 pushed east from the University
district, lined with a glittering display of modern storefronts.
The Pueblo Revival-style fire station at Bryn Mawr and Central
stands as yet another architectural gem along Albuquerque's
"cultural corridor." The Nob Hill Shopping Center
at Carlisle and Central, one of the first centralized shopping
centers west of the Mississippi, was once considered a wild and
crazy idea. The Nob Hill district has since become a delightful
place to discover intriguing specialty shops, excellent
restaurants, and innovative performing arts.
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