What is Art*o*mat®?

What is Art*o*mat®? Created by Clark Whittington in 1997, Art*o*mat® machines are retired cigarette machines that have been converted to VEND ART! For only $5 you can collect paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, mixed media and more -all the size of a pack of cigarettes. There are over 100 active machines in various locations throughout the country. Victoria Brown (that's me), and El Centro de Santa Fe are proud to host the first machine in New Mexico which debuted in February 2013. There are now 8 machines in northern New Mexico (Santa Fe and Albuquerque area). @ARToMatNM on Facebook/Instagram

Monday, October 8, 2018

Art*o*mat® Installed at Albuquerque Balloon Museum


The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation has millions of visitors through its doors for Albuquerque's famous Balloon Fiesta and now they've got one more. And "she'll" be staying a while!

Meet the newest member of my ArtomatNM family, this gorgeous 20-column vintage cigarette machine-turned-art-vending-machine painted by North Carolina artist Jennifer O'Kelly. Beautiful hot air balloons festoon the front, sides, and backside of the machine against a backdrop of Albuquerque's skyline complete with Sandia Peak.
Hot air balloon themed Art*o*mat painted by Jennifer O'Kelly -just in time for ABQ Balloon Fiesta Oct. 6-14, 2018

I can't believe today is finally here! Installation Day at a dream venue!
Delivering the new Art*o*mat® to the ABQ Balloon Museum with help from Corky Brown and Louis Correll
Executive Director Jill Lane meets us at the door
Louis and I move the Art*o*mat® to its new home in the gift shoppe
Executive Director Jill Lane tries out Art*o*mat®
Madison Block, the Museum Foundation's Communications Manager, helps show how beautiful the Art*o*mat® is from the back. Artist Jennifer O'Kelly made a special effort to make it attractive from all angles.
Art*o*mat® is at home in the Balloon Museum Gift Shoppe. "She" looks as if it's been there all along!
You can visit this Art*o*mat® every day except Monday at the Balloon Museum's Gift Shoppe:
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
505-880-0500
Open Tues-Sun 9 am to 5 pm

Museum admission is FREE from 9 am to 1 pm on Sundays.