I think I found a new obsession.As a longtime dollhouse and miniatures collector, I already had a love for all things small. So, I naturally gravitated to this news story I found about an artist in Germany selling miniature art in old vending machines. Neat idea, I thought.
Then I read the comments and realized that this wasn't a new idea. Apparently, I'd been missing out on something interesting, namely "real" miniature art sold for a "small" price in old cigarette machines across the US. Great way to recycle those old machines, too!
(Image: Art*O*Mat machine, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL)
Art*O*Mat has been offering the miniature vending machine art since 1997. The art, most selling for $5, with half going to the artist, includes a range of subjects and formats as seen in this sample gallery.
Since I'm interested in these for specific purposes, I saw several items that were interesting such as a piece in a small tote bag, some on blocks, pictures in fold-out booklets, a small book, and a picture with two dogs that I really liked. Art*O*Mat's art is sized 2 1/8" x 3 1/4" x 7/8".
* Find Art*o*mat locations
Unfortunately, none of the machines are close to me so I'll have to keep a list in mind when I get to those areas.
Anyone buy something at one of these machines? I'd love to see what kind of art you got and hear what you thought. I still think it's a really cool idea, especially for miniatures collectors!
I've never bought any, but I've seen the machine. They used to have one in the lobby of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in Louisville. And a friend of mine used to paint items for them. I don't think she's done that for a couple of years, but some of her stuff might possibly still be in one, somewhere. Her name is Ardis Moonlight, and she's a writer as well as an artist.
ReplyDeleteMarian Allen