Sunrise to Sunset: Route 66 Themed A.R.T. Bus Wrap
Selected as one of eighteen Albuquerque-based artists for Route 66 Remix, Dante Betsch created a commemorative vinyl wrap for the city’s free public transit A.R.T buses to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial. Responding directly to the scale, movement, and architecture of the bus, the final design draws from Route 66 history, Albuquerque’s community identity, and the visual language of the historic highway.
Dante’s six-month design process was directly shaped by Albuquerque’s community. Given the complex history of A.R.T., - a nearly decade-long public transit project that contributed to the closure of several small businesses along its route - Dante began the project by listening before designing. Conversations with city officials, community members, and fellow commissioned artists informed the direction of the project and helped ensure the final design reflected the people and places it was created to serve. It was equally important that the final wrap feel integrated into Albuquerque’s streetscape, whether the bus was loading passengers, moving through traffic, or traveling along Route 66. Drawing from the city’s vibrant car culture, evolving urban landscape, and Route 66 identity, the final design responds to both Albuquerque’s history and the unique architecture of a moving canvas.