Enjoy the Little Things: Art*o*mat® is Alive and Well and Waiting for YOU to Ker-Plunk...

 As news changes so quickly these days in pandemic-land, it's been hard for me to guesstimate when any sense of normalcy will return to everyone's lives. Here in New Mexico we've been pretty safe, and I'm glad to report that there are more and more business openings happening. High-touch-factor places like Meow Wolf are still not allowed to open but I have 7 out of 8 Art*o*mat® machines ready and waiting for YOU to visit.

Come to the following venues, be prepared to socially distance, wear a mask if they require it for entry, and get rid of those pesky FIVE and ONE DOLLAR BILLS 'cuz everyone is getting all heebie-jeebie about cash these days anyway. KER-PLUNK your way to a bit of cigarette-box-sized art enjoyment and support artists at the same time!

As they say in the 2009 classic zombie-smashing flick Zombieland, Rule #32 of Zombie Survival: Enjoy the little things... 

So I just had to show n' tell this awesome Zombie Sam L. Jackson painting by Artist in Cellophane Patrick Harris. It is from my personal collection (not for sale) but I thought it would fit perfectly with the zombie apocalypse vibe I got going on in my feelz today. 

Open and Ready for your patronage right now:
(please check with each venue for up-to-date hours and restrictions)

Art*o*mat® in Albuquerque:

1. Balloon Museum ~ Fear not. Balloons will fly this October (but you're not allowed to hang out in large groups to watch this time). The museum and Gift Shoppe are open and strict social distancing rules are in place. The whole place is a nonprofit and they don't charge sales tax for gift shoppe items so drop by and show some support while you ker-plunk the "Up and Away" balloon-themed Art*o*mat®.

Open 9-5 Wednesday through Sunday
9201 Balloon Museum Drive, Albuquerque

2. Range Cafe, Central Ave. ~ Blink and you could've missed it, but the Standard Diner is now a Range Cafe. The widely popular chain by co-owner Matt DiGregory is unstoppable and he's taken advantage of the pandemic to do some remodeling and has plans for more growth on that block (live music, grab and go food). They even created a special featured nook, fitted with electrical outlet, just for Art*o*mat® to live.

Don't worry if you were gaga for Standard's bacon-wrapped meatloaf. It and several other winners are still on the menu at that Range Cafe location.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
320 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque

3. Range Cafe, Rio Grande Blvd. ~ Still open and still going strong. Plenty of parking even though they acquisitioned some of the parking lot for an outdoor seating area.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
1050 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque

4. Range Cafe, Bernalillo ~ Still open and still going strong. Plenty of parking even though they acquisitioned some of the parking lot in back (including the handicapped spaces) for an outdoor seating area.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
925 Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo

Art*o*mat® in Santa Fe:

1. Inn of the Governors ~ The good folks at this downtown hotel didn't take a break all pandemic long and have definitely gotten creative with their outdoor parking lot-turned-dining-area for Del Charro Saloon. The Art*o*mat® machine is still in the lobby so visit and grab a green chile cheeseburger too.

Open daily, Del Charro open for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out until 10 pm.

101 W. Alameda Street, Santa Fe

2. El Centro De Santa Fe Gallery Mall ~ Some galleries in the mall have since closed/relocated since the pandemic but it's not a total ghost town. The turquoise Art*o*mat® stands strong in the hallway, ready for ker-plunking, so please visit and wave to the hardy gallery folk neighbors who are making the best of their situations.

Open Daily until 5 pm, Sundays until 4 pm.

102 E. Water Street, Santa Fe

3. Caffe Greco ~ Since they have a great patio on Canyon Road, these folks have been able to keep on keeping on through the waxing and waning of art-loving tourists coming to town.

Open Wednesday through Sunday until 5 pm for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.

233 Canyon Road, Santa Fe

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.

Coming in 2018: My Art*o*mat Family Grows by 2

This 20 column cigarette machine from the 60's will soon become an Art*o*mat®

Greetings and Happy Spring Art*o*mat® fans and friends!
I have exciting news to share:  In 2018 I will have two more "members" added to my "Family" of Art*o*mat® machines here in northern New Mexico. I am pleased to report that Albuquerque will be home to both of these machines: one will go to the Range Cafe (Rio Grande Blvd.) restaurant and the other (pictured above) will go to the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.

Installation dates for the new machines are undetermined but they will be here in time for Balloon Fiesta (October 6-14). Artist Jennifer O'Kelly has begun work on the Art*o*mat® for the Balloon Museum and it will be covered with her whimsical hot air balloon paintings.

The Art*o*mat® for the Range Cafe Rio Grande Blvd. location has been worked on by painter Hieronymus and he's created an amazing-looking Art*o*mat® in his graffiti style.

Until then... Art*o*mat® is seeking NEW ARTISTS. If you or someone you know is interested in creating art for these repurposed cigarette-machine-turned-mini-art-galleries please visit the Artists' Submission Page at artomat.org and learn how you can market your art by becoming an Art*o*mat® artist.