Tamaria Williams, courtesy of Visit Baton Rouge
Art-o-Mats are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend original artwork. Visitors to Baton Rouge's Metropolitan Airport will now be greeted by the prospect of original art upon arrival in the Capital City.
Chips, candy, sodas—when most picture traditional vending machines, these are the options awaiting behind the plexiglass. But these days, particularly in airports, vending machines have enjoyed some major upgrades that now include cosmetics, phone chargers, and more.
But how about artwork? As of May 9, when visitors arrive through the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, they’ll be greeted by a new custom Art-o-Mat: a vending machine that dispenses small works of original art. Created in collaboration with the BRG@BTR Gallery that opened in October 2021, travelers and residents flying into Baton Rouge will encounter local art instantly upon their arrival—hopefully setting a tone for the rest of their stay.
“The BRG@BTR gallery and Art-o-Mat installation are giving travelers the opportunity to enjoy art just minutes after they’ve stepped off a plane,” said Laura Cating, Visit Baton Rouge’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “This starts their visit off in an impactful way and leaves a lasting positive impression of our city.”
Started when artist Clark Whittington repurposed a cigarette vending machine for an art exhibition in 1997, today there are hundreds of Art-o-Mats around the country. Now, in addition to the machine inside the Baton Rouge Gallery’s flagship, small pieces of art will be easily available inside BTR.
“Airports are the face of the community to first-time visitors, and we want to make a good impression,” explained Jim Caldwell, Marketing, Public Relations & Air Service Development Manager for the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. “The art exhibits can reflect our region’s unique culture by showcasing the work of local artists for our passengers and guests. The airport is also a great location for artists to display their work to nearly a million people annually, many of whom are art enthusiasts.”
Between BRG@BTR and the new Art-o-Mat, visitors will now encounter elements of Louisiana’s unique culture before even leaving the terminal, according to President/CEO of Baton Rouge Gallery Jason Andreasen. “And we couldn't be more excited to have artists be a big part of the welcoming committee.”
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