The
Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation has millions of visitors through its doors for Albuquerque's famous
Balloon Fiesta and now they've got one more. And "she'll" be staying a while!
Meet the newest member of my ArtomatNM family, this gorgeous 20-column vintage cigarette machine-turned-art-vending-machine painted by North Carolina artist
Jennifer O'Kelly. Beautiful hot air balloons festoon the front, sides, and backside of the machine against a backdrop of Albuquerque's skyline complete with Sandia Peak.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-is4JAdFR6PcqdY0w5_GPqBGnzKTSh9IQ-wmi-1rgLK6U6avDd13jfF1f07rpWpFXF_4C31gL8LzXJIgHgt4Pdwx-BxA-2nV59J8DiGAg2wa23Y0a74GdFjU0jacbZY_d_XCaP-KJsE/s640/IMG_3116.JPG) |
Hot air balloon themed Art*o*mat painted by Jennifer O'Kelly -just in time for ABQ Balloon Fiesta Oct. 6-14, 2018 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BY5VgcejlBmPXZ6dHgdwDYlC3Yr50rto8vfKPsMRT0JyhZFu7d4mHOQWHDhD3rOKkWfsYMDhOZFdUNOm9g4bznwy3yPAiNsMVFTJchoLrkH7YpLb_kwNUjXtjG0dG9K8YaOAacpnSCA/s400/IMG_3096.JPG) |
I can't believe today is finally here! Installation Day at a dream venue! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOniy1pFUoD2CioRijcj0wq7xXkJITTtM67KMecaz2rCf7ebCjvAr4xq_RW_mUmaMUbER0kMFoqhjlRUOCUixoruORqP1YoY6aBQIDoicN8o2uSlZQ0eQwaf_isF07aT0QTKSKSQv78s/s400/IMG_3098.JPG) |
Delivering the new Art*o*mat® to the ABQ Balloon Museum with help from Corky Brown and Louis Correll |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpVjazQO5vZAmLJDMxtgfzWRThr4KK0AKvqfs4YXO6kICVr2K0oizp5-sWE3SmBxXyW3iag7jRf-mqJQdM0EISnaKVuIoIUD053ux3ckdEwS1EV3atFZlI2UQNTLCvsRbSmIE9yO2ibM/s400/IMG_3099.JPG) |
Executive Director Jill Lane meets us at the door |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboloUNtI7IV_2yE3109SOgpJX2g-y8dGUFG9OgSnrfk-EmRq8vC6Q76aJV3FIY9D0dkRcD5t8sTVJXr1gUgT9_wY34Y3sYn5ZSr5VcAeUFfmbWgajIYpWsCsqLtMQlss1CXVe0Z5xKiM/s400/IMG_3101.JPG) |
Louis and I move the Art*o*mat® to its new home in the gift shoppe |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAGe1ukPH4SFql9_PE_cXg25ncCHW-73l7W0TadlYGGPg1ftj2OYfK6B78o41v6Ze-XA2TS6Dy77ADW7-SJyeiMpKsCHjhNBOSTNea_MUbYE9-B7OalBNYR4KhJye1qHljeCrKvqZHfU/s400/IMG_3108.JPG) |
Executive Director Jill Lane tries out Art*o*mat® |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43RPH9hMAsG1uGYHmE7cK-JakXyaYyEt-LPFko_ZA6T41YJV4rM14xDMl3svTpxWQnnVfe5r3FmujpH2yMwkRUjW41QhPqjkk_wcNfC0K9j977kozSIEDdQMT3PlQf3RlVX84TBzP4W4/s400/IMG_5347.jpg) |
Madison Block, the Museum Foundation's Communications Manager, helps show how beautiful the Art*o*mat® is from the back. Artist Jennifer O'Kelly made a special effort to make it attractive from all angles. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqUBBfzecvSwDVA9-a-d4U49fk2r9TQjrAoJJlmsfKf67VP2kWiwnOGmCmZODUNmq43IRuSnZcw43dKeT07Qbumooe6Mu7MAj5p-cNxq0XaJtZpG-eQDj6_3gyYoe2XcAEZAFi6dfuZw/s400/IMG_5344.jpg) |
Art*o*mat® is at home in the Balloon Museum Gift Shoppe. "She" looks as if it's been there all along! |
You can visit this Art*o*mat® every day except Monday at the Balloon Museum's
Gift Shoppe:
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
505-880-0500
Open Tues-Sun 9 am to 5 pm
Museum admission is FREE from 9 am to 1 pm on Sundays.