By Gwen Frost
Why support Nestlé when you could support one of the local artists you go to school with?
You may, or may not, have heard of the vending machine that lives on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building, and dispenses student art for three dollars a piece, but it’s about to get way more accessible.
Now, 12 years after first being cultivated, the art department is revamping the concept with two new candy vending machines that will dispense 2-inch capsules holding art done by students. The idea was implemented by Photography Professor Garth Amundson, who was inspired by a body of work called Art-o-mats.
The original creator of a vending machine for art was Clark Whittington, who in 1997 repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell black and white photographs for one dollar each, coining the project “Art-o-mat.”
In 2018. Western’s second-floor vending machine has had many mechanical problems, and would cost too much to fix, said Amundson.
“It’s an analog piece of machinery,” said Amundson. “Even though it’s wonderful and I have a lot of nostalgia and sentimental attachment to it, it’s clearly falling apart.”
Amundson’s Art 495 class on Professional Practice came up with a resuscitation of the beloved, but but now semi-dysfunctional, art drop. The students are divided into teams to deal with the physical aspects and publicity of getting this project off the ground, and will be using two gumball vending machines, which they have christened the “art-drop mini.”
One will be on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building in the same location as the old art drop, and one will be on the first floor near the art offices.
If you’re an artist, submissions to be displayed in machines can be sent to: https://artdropmini.wixsite.com/artdropmini. The class asks for artists to submit in addition of 10 pieces, which need to fit within 2-inch capsules. If you want your art to be known, you can also put a slip of paper in the capsule with your name/email/instagram.
The art is per donation, and artists are not monetarily awarded by commission.Historically, all funds from the machine went to an art scholarship, which will continue to be the case.
For art student Isis Beckwith, the machines are more about “helping artists get their names out there.”
Art student Darren Stapely agreed that the machines will be an “opportunity for functional promotional material.”
“For example, a lighter that is branded, or you can put vinyl over a lighter that has your art on it but it also has your information on it,” said Stapely. “Still giving a very artistic spin on the item, but you’re giving something of function to people.”
Guiseppe Ruggeri said part of the idea is to figure out “what people actually want to buy when it comes to art.”
“Art is getting more and more polarizing” said Ruggeri. “It’s important to try and understand what’s consumable for a general audience.”
The low price of one dollar to buy art was very intentional, in an effort to increases peoples “accessibility to art,” said Kat DeBoer.
“A lot of people that aren’t part of the art community think that if they want to own a piece of art they have to spend like, thousands of dollars on like, a masterpiece,” said DeBoer.
“But no, a normal person can own art and display it in their home and not have to spend an arm and a leg on it.”
Making art more accessible and affordable allows it to be seen and valued, too.
“It’s really exciting that it can be a chance to highlight and have a spotlight on the art department because the art department is so invisible. Just like how the VU gallery is being quietly swept away,” said Natalie Millsap.
“Now we can have this established and can bring people in; it can bring more attention to and show an importance of art and how it connects people.”
The launch date is March 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., A reception will also be held on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building.