What is Art*o*mat®?

What is Art*o*mat? Created by Clark Whittington in 1997, Art*o*mat® machines are retired cigarette machines that have been converted to VEND ART! For only $5 you can collect paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, mixed media and more -all the size of a pack of cigarettes. There are over 100 active machines in various locations throughout the country. "Mat," the machine featured in this road trip blog, was the first Art*o*mat® hosted in Washington state in 2005 and now "MAThilda" is proud to be the first machine hosted in New Mexico, debuting in February 2013.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Around New Mexico 2: Roswell, UFO Museum

It was the "crashed" flying saucer sculpture yesterday at Atomic Ed's Black Hole in Los Alamos that got Mat to wondering: did a UFO really crash in Roswell back in 1947?  We thought a drive down to Roswell was in order.  About halfway there we stopped at a 50's tribute diner in the tiny town of Vaughn, called Penny's Diner, for lunch.  It was a shining chrome glory with black and white tiles and 50's and 60's rock n' roll playing as we enjoyed a buffalo burger and an order of "frings" (1/2 order fries, 1/2 order onion rings).
50's fabulousness at Penny's Diner in Vaughn, NM
When we got into Roswell we had to take Mat directly to the authority on the alien spacecraft crash incident: The International UFO Museum and Research Center.  Mat didn't get to go inside, but we took plenty of photos for him.  He got to pose proudly in front of the UFO Museum marquis and met some new friends including Beth and her museum gift shop co-workers, and Larry from Seattle, who was in town for (Mariners?) spring training and was just passing by.
Mat shines in the sun in front of The International UFO Museum and Research Center.  Roswell, NM
Larry from Seattle was passing by and posed for a photo with Mat.  Roswell, NM
Mat poses with Beth from the UFO Museum gift store.  Roswell, NM
Alien grays under their spinning saucer craft at UFO Museum. Roswell, NM
Victoria is overcome with emotion at this UFO crash painting in the Research Library
Life size diorama of the alien autopsy at UFO Museum.  Roswell, NM
Diorama of exactly how the UFO crashed in Roswell, 1947
Even the elevator floor in our hotel got in on the alien fun!

1 comment:

  1. Our blog has reached over 1,000 views. Thank you so much for viewing! Mat is thrilled :)

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