The work-in-progress art vending machine sits in corner of the basement of the Fine Arts Building on April 19.
The first vending machine was invented in 1883, and it sold postcards. That’s not that far off from the University of Montana’s newest vending machine, opening in just a few weeks in the School of Visual and Media Arts. The machine, created by the UM Artist Collective, will dispense something much more creative than soda and chips: affordable, local art.
The idea for the project came from the artist collective’s trip to San Francisco last spring. They were inspired by the art vending machines found in prominent galleries. Now, the project is picking up steam after a year of progress.
The biggest hurdle was obtaining a vending machine. New ones start around $2,000, putting the project out of reach. Fortunately, artist collective member Sydney Bean’s father just happened to have one on hand.
“I think he thought that I would bring it on campus and sell snacks myself,” Bean said.
That was only part of the challenge; the real hard part was getting the machine to campus. Once it arrived at its new home, another issue presented itself.
“The width of the machine was 37 inches, and the doorframe was 36. So taking off the door and the door of the vending machine, we were able to fit it in,” Bean said.
The machine will sell art from artist collective members and work from artists in the community. It will also sell art supplies, something the group hopes will help offset decreased availability of supplies in at the Go Griz store.
Beyond the vending machine, the artist collective has plans to make the first floor of the Visual and Media Arts building feel more comfortable. They hope to add some LED lights and a nice rug. There are also plans for a mural around the vending machine.
The core philosophy of the project is a desire to make art more affordable and accessible, according to Terra Honaker, the president of the UM Artist Collective.
“We’re trying to create a platform for artists at UM — whether they’re art majors or not — where they can interact with the larger community of Missoula and find methods to sell their work, find methods to meet other artists and find community, in a space that’s not competitive and not intimidating,” Honaker said.
The UM Artist Collective is a group of students dedicated to promoting and advancing student’s creative arts endeavors. The collective pays the contributing artists a wholesale rate for their work and then sells the work on their behalf, according to Honaker. The money from the vending machine then goes directly to the artist collective’s account. The money will help fuel the group’s ventures and further grow the club, Honaker said.
To Honaker, the vending machine is a testament to a new beginning for the artist collective.
“It’s kind of a comeback story,” Honaker said. “The fall semester in ‘2022, I was the only member left. I was super scared the club was gonna die.”
Despite challenges, the club survived.
The art vending machine has an ongoing call for artists; one that, as of now, Honaker expects to remain open forever. As for the actual art for sale, expect a variety in addition to more traditional print media. “That could look like crochet, that could look like ceramics,” Honaker said.
The artist collective hopes the vending machine will stay at UM long-term.
“It took three hours to get it in here,” Honaker said, “It’s staying!”
The art vending machine will open on May 2, with an official opening from 4 to 6 p.m. It’s planned to be an ongoing project.
