In the future, art will be downsized and packaged in cellophane; and with the pull of a handle, vending machines will dispense art like the assortment of bagged chips they now carry.
It will be a vast array of small paintings, sculptures, prints and literary works so small they can fit in one’s pocket.
The world will carry its art in pockets across the globe. Where candy bars, potato chips and nuts once were sold, art will be sold instead, and art history will forever be changed.
Yes, in the future the need for art galleries and museums will vanish. The buildings that once carried priceless works of art will be empty and useless.
There’s no need to wait for “the future,” for $5 anyone can get pocket-sized art now.
Art-o-mats are old cigarette machines transformed into art vending machines dispensing tiny works of art including short stories, earrings, finger puppets, paintings, paint on wood blocks, mosaics and prints.
Clark Whittington, founder of Artists in Cellophane or A.I.C., started making Art-o-mats in Winston Salem in 1997 when he witnessed his friends “Pavlovian reaction” to the crinkle of cellophane. Whittington’s friend had an instant need to buy a snack from the vending machine after he heard one of the cellophane packages being opened.
The Art-o-mat’s original function was just another display piece at one of Whittington’s art shows, but it was such a hit it became a permanent piece at Penny Universitie, a cafe in Winston Salem, at the owner’s request. He never intended the “art piece” to turn into a business, but with that “fresh” of an idea, it became popular fast.
“Once it was there, it grew on its own,” Whittington said.
Whittington decided to continue the project by involving other artists and sending his art dispensing machines to places throughout the entire U.S. and even England, including a machine here in Raleigh at Whole Foods Market.
“It’s nice to have a machine back in Raleigh,” Whittington said.
Whittington fixes up all the cigarette machines, which are usually donated, and personalizes them for the store or organization to which it will go. The Raleigh Art-o-mat has wheat on its front — a symbol of Whole Foods Market.
“They’re like boat anchors, no one can really use them except for me,” Whittington said of the original cigarette machines.
The artists come from far and wide with all sorts of items labeled as “art,” including literary art works. The Whole Foods’ Art-o-mat promotes all local artists, like Nell Whitlock.
“We like to display local artists,” Carrie Le Chevallier, a Whole Foods Store marketing specialist, said.
Le Chevallier brought the Art-o-mat to Raleigh two years ago, and keeps the machine stocked with local artists’ work. What most people don’t notice, according to Whittington, is the work going into machines like the one at Whole Foods. The machine has a “700 dollar” paint job and real pin stripes.
The proceeds of Whole Foods’ Art-o-mat go to an after-school art program for children. The owners of the Art-o-mat are encouraged to support charities, Le Chevallier said.
“It is not a requirement, but he encourages the charity aspect,” Le Chevallier said of Whittington.
Many around Raleigh, including the workers at Whole Foods Market, are excited about the Art-o-mat. For many, its concept is exciting and the artwork it contains is even more exciting.
“The Art-o-mat is great. You never know what you are going to get, but you are going to get something cool,” Paul Daughety, a customer service representative at Whole Foods Market, said. “You just don’t know what. It’s a wonderful machine.”
Whittington admits the reason Art-o-mat has lasted as long as it has is credited to the artists.
“The artists have really stepped up a lot,” Whittington said. “The company is growing, maturing.”
As fun as it may sound to restore old cigarette machines into a work of art, Whittington said it is not easy. He loves art and “won’t compromise his philosophy,” but a program like A.I.C. has to be run like a business.
“No sane person would do this for a living,” Whittington said.
With the help of artists and people like Carrie Le Chevallier supporting it, Whittington has kept up the growth of the Art-o-mat, proving it takes “two to tango.”