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The weather is still too hot for ballooning, but The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has released its official 2024 poster.
The poster, designed by Albuquerque artist Jake Gushard, depicts balloons in a starry sky, firing their burners. The central balloon, adorned with stars, shares colors similar to the Albuquerque sunset and the Sandia Mountains in the background. Gushard, according to a news release, was inspired by the annual balloon glows.
Gushard, who just graduated from Purdue University with a degree in cybersecurity, spent most of his life in Albuquerque and graduated from La Cueva High School. He got his start as an artist drawing in school. After developing an interest in computers, he began experimenting with programs like Photoshop and creating digital artwork. Gushard made sure to keep up the tradition of hiding a roadrunner in the poster as well.
Gushard was encouraged by his father to submit a design and found out he won the poster design contest on his dad’s birthday.
The hand-numbered poster is available in both signed and unsigned versions, as well as smaller metal with acrylic versions at the Balloon Fiesta’s gift shop, located at 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE and online at www.balloonfiestastuff.com.