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.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

We're Heading East! Day 16: Route 66 Tucumcari, NM

It's Day 16 of Our Epic Art*o*mat® Road Trip and we've finally left Santa Fe and hit the road, eastward, toward Winston-Salem, NC.  We're taking Interstate 40 and hitting some truly awesome Route 66 roadside attractions. Spending the night at the neon-tastic Blue Swallow Motel is a special treat with the pink princess phone in the room, neon everywhere, and the personal room-side garages with hand painted murals (there's even a Cars themed garage ala "Radiator Springs" with Speed and Mater, Calvin! Don't worry -Grandma took pictures).
Mat basks in the neon of The Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66.  Tucumcari, NM
Owners, Kevin and Nancy, were thrilled to meet Mat and happily posed for a photo with him along with their super friendly co-workers, golden retrievers: Boomer, the Vice President of Security, and Bessie, Director of Guest Comfort.  They were all so welcoming and sweet! Some Art*o*mat® buttons and art samples made them smile -guaranteeing Mat two new loyal fans in Tucumcari, NM! We hope you consider hosting a machine some day, Kevin.  Art*o*mat® would fit right in at this fabulous 1939 motel!
Mat meets The Blue Swallow Motel staff: owners Nancy and Kevin and the dogs, Boomer and Bessie. Tucumcari, NM
We can't recommend this awesome motel enough.  If you happen to be passing by and it's not time to bed down for the night yet, do stop and have a chat with Kevin and Nancy anyway.  If you're interested, they'll even show you a room or two if they aren't already occupied. We loved the adorable chenille bedspreads, the tiny tile shower, and the 1962 issue of National Geographic on the nightstand.  Of course it'd be worth a stop just to visit the garage murals painted by Wesolowski & Rennaux:
Park in this Blue Swallow Motel hand painted garage -or keep riding into the sunset!
Having your own "Easy Rider" moment? Park in this Blue Swallow Motel garage! 
It's Lightning McQueen and other Cars characters from Radiator Springs, Calvin!
The Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66.  Tucumcari, NM
Mat loves the giant sombrero atop La Cita Mexican Restaurant on Route 66. Tucumcari, NM
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Location: Tucumcari, NM 88401, USA

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