SARANAC LAKE - Local artists are hoping that an antiquated cigarette machine will become the newest means of promoting the growing art scene here.
Todd Smith, owner of the 7444 Gallery, and artist Matt Burnett recently purchased a coin-operated cigarette vending machine in Plattsburgh, and this week have filled it with the work of more than 20 local artists. Most of the prizes are from the Saranac Lake Artworks group, but any artists are welcome to have their work put into the vending machine.
Tonight, at the first Saranac Lake Art Walk of the season, the public will be able to buy the original art works for $1 worth of coins.
Smith and Burnett are hoping that the vending machine will help connect members of the public with artists they may not have heard of otherwise. The prizes will come with business cards from those who created the art.
"People are doing a lot better things than you'd expect," Burnett said. "For instance, Bob Pettee of Pendragon is putting some discounted theater tickets in there. There's all kinds of stuff in there, so whatever you get for a dollar, it'll be worth way more than a dollar."
Other prizes may be brooches or photographs. It just has to fit within a box the size of a cigarette box.
Expect the prizes to be creative in one way or another. Smith said he recently talked to a local blacksmith, noting that he "talked about putting a little piece of steel in the box that says, 'Bring this to my forge.'" If the winner does bring the steel to the blacksmith, the person would get to see the steel made into a hook or a 19th century nail.
Ultimately, the idea is to pleasantly surprise the customer.
"This is, in a sense, to engage both people who understand art but perhaps the people who don't understand the value of art," Smith said, "by giving to them something for a nominal fee and having them say, 'Hey, wow, this is really special.'"
The vending machine will be located in front of The Fringe art gallery at 63 Main St., across from the Sears parking lot. The Art Walk takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Contact Mike Lynch at mlynch@adirondackdailyenterprise.com or 891-2600 ext. 28.
