Heaven is an Art-o-mat

I am a huge Art-o-mat fan.  I’ve known about them for several years, but have never actually seen one… that is, until a few weeks ago, when H and I just happened upon a machine while exploring the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D. C.

Art-o-mats are cigarette vending machines that have been converted to sell miniature original art.  What I love about them is that for $5 you can make a selection based on a minimal amount of visual information and receive a handmade piece of art.  It’s like finding the treasure in a Cracker Jack box, or (better yet) looking at a snack machine trying to decide just what you have a taste for.  Once the decision is made, you pull the knob and hear it clunk to the bottom of the bin… the anticipation is almost as delicious as the treat itself.  I LOVE that!