The Cultural Office is pleased to host and manage the Art-o-Mat® machine pictured to the right, entitled Carnival, here in our community. Our machine is accessible to the public and located in the main entrance lobby at the Ivywild School, at 1604 S. Cascade Avenue, just south of downtown Colorado Springs.

Art-o-Mat® machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend small works of handmade art. There are many different creations to choose from, and all pieces of artwork sell for just $5. There are over 100 active machines in various locations throughout the country. Art-o-Mat® is the work of North Carolina artist Clark Whittington, who has been creating these whimsical machines for over 20 years.

Art-o-Mat® is fun way to build public interest in the arts, to provide local artists with a new outlet for creativity, and to connect the City of Colorado Springs to a network of other arts destinations across the country. The experience of pulling the knob is quite a thrill on its own, but you also walk away with an original work of art. Collectors have even been known to plan their travels around visits to Art-o-Mat® communities!