The glow of neon spilled from canvases at the Amarillo Art Institute as artists, community members and Route 66 enthusiasts gathered Friday, Sept. 5, to celebrate a rare collaboration.

On display were 87 plein air paintings created by 65 artists who set out to capture the fading landmarks and weathered towns of Route 66 as it winds through Texas and New Mexico. The exhibit, "The Mother Road — Open Air, Open Road," runs through Sept. 26 at AAI’s Vermillion Gallery, 3701 Plains Blvd., with all works available for purchase.

The show, the first joint effort between Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) and the Amarillo Art Institute, drew a full crowd for its opening reception. Attendees mingled with artists who had spent months tracing both the highway’s current path and its older pre-19

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