Mini printed art hits Matlacha
Mini art vending machines are gaining popularity in many places, including Matlacha.
To the delight of Saint James City resident and local artist Parker Carwile, boutique and art gallery Sandy Paws & Co. has a number of his pieces in a mini print vending machine.
The machines are reportedly available online from Etsy, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, with a price range that can vary from as low as $60 to several thousand dollars. One such device is called the Art-o-mat. It is a repurposed, cigarette vending machine that dispenses cigarette pack-sized artwork.
While Carwile was on vacation this past summer, he saw what he assumed was a vending machine that sold baseball cards or maybe temporary tattoos. He said people would put in four quarters and slide it and out spits a little cardboard folder.
“Inside that folder was a little miniature print of a local artist,” Carwile said.
The genius of the machine mesmerized him as he considered the approach to sharing miniature prints from local artists. He said there were dozens of different prints in the first machine he saw and people were lining up to get one. The gallery also sold miniature frames for the artwork, which also provided the business with another avenue for sales.
“They were actually limiting how many you could buy because they were so popular. I wondered how artists are making any money when you can buy these prints for a dollar. But I guess, while they are able to sell their art, it’s also a way of getting their name out as an artist,” Carwile said.
After observing another mini art machine in another location, he searched online to find out just how popular the machines had become. He said to his surprise, he found that they are all over the country in places such as art galleries, museums, and craft and antique stores.
“Some artists have multiple machines spread throughout their city,” Carwile said.
He explained the experience prodded him to purchase one of the vending machines. He then took about 100 of his paintings and converted them to miniature prints. He said he was excited by the idea of having one of the machines in Matlacha with local artists’ work, including his own. He added there is even a Facebook page of mini art print collectors, as well as where to find the vending machines.
“This is just something unique and fun, and I thought it would be great in a place like Matlacha since that’s the heart of the art community, I think,” Carwile said.
Sandy Paws & Co. is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
For more information, call 239-220-9821.
Sandy Paws & Co. is at 4643 Pine Island Road, Matlacha.