Colorado Springs’ Art-o-mat® For the next few months, CSPM will serve as temporary home to Colorado Springs’ Art-omat® art vending machine. Art-o-mat® machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been repurposed to dispense small, handmade works of art. For just $5, museum visitors can purchase a unique souvenir that celebrates the creativity of local artists. The Art-o-mat® at CSPM is titled “Carnival” and offers many different options, allowing guests to collect something new on every visit. Art-o-mat® was first created in June 1997 by artist Clark Whittington for a solo art show at Penny Universitie, a café in Winston-Salem, N.C. The original machine sold Clark’s black & white photographs. Clark’s art show was slated to end in July, but the Art-o-mat® proved so popular with Penny Universitie customers that the café owner requested the machine stay. Since then, Art-o-mat® has expanded, with more than 100 active machines across the United States. Today, each machine has a unique design and sells works from a diverse roster of artists. Locally, Art-o-mat® is sponsored by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR). In conjunction with Arts Month, COPPeR unveiled the new Art-o-mat® machine in the CSPM lobby on Wednesday, October 5th. COPPeR plans to have the machine relocate to a new, high foottraffic location in Colorado Springs approximately every six months, with CSPM being its first location. COPPeR’s website notes that the vision for Art-o-mat® in the Pikes Peak region is to “elevate the visibility and brand of our local arts & cultural community, and…provide tourists and residents with a new way to engage and enjoy the arts.” Visit the Art-o-mat® in the CSPM’s lobby The Art-o-mat® is also an exciting way to connect the Colorado Springs creative community to a network of artists and enthusiasts across the globe. There are currently more than 300 contributing artists from 10 different countries providing pieces for Art-o-mat® machines nationwide. Art-o-mat® is always looking for new contributing artists, allowing artists from the Pikes Peak region to get involved. Thanks to its convenient location and $5 price point, Art-o-mat® makes art more accessible for the public. The concept is so well-regarded nationally that many collectors plan trips around new Art-o-mat® locations. CSPM is excited to share the Art-o-mat® with Colorado Springs residents and visitors alike. For more information on the Art-o-mat® or to become a contributing artist, visit the Art-o-mat® page on COPPeR’s website: www.culturaloffice.org/programs/art-o- mat/ MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2017 | PG 6
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