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What is an Art-O-Mat? and Pictures from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts

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Remember I told you about Cindy Ingram’s Art Class Curator workshops? She’s hosting the Curated Connections Workshop a FREE online training, starting August 8th. She’s sharing some of her favorite tips and techniques.

Colorful poster for the Curated Connections Workshop by Art Class Curator, starting August 8. Free 4-part video series.

This reminded me of the National Art Ed Conference this year, when Cindy, Phyl, Misty Bear and I went to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts one afternoon. I have been meaning to write all kinds of blog posts in our break from school, but wow, this summer is just slipping away from me!

Four people stand in front of a tall, spiky, yellow glass sculpture in a modern atrium with large windows, capturing pictures.
Can you see us down at the bottom of this YUGE Chihuly sculpture?
(Cindy, Me, Misty Bear, and Phyl)
A woman with glasses smiling in front of a yellow-green abstract sculpture in a modern building.
Here is a closer picture. I love the lime green color.

You may be wondering about the title of this blog post and what the heck is an Art-o-Mat?? A little treasure we discovered at the museum was one of the Art-o-Mat vending machines.

A retrofitted cigarette vending machine now dispenses art packs for $5 each, displayed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

What is an Art-o-Mat? It is a retired cigarette vending machine that is now filled with artwork. Each little box costs $5. Of course, we had to buy some.

Person examining an Art-o-mat, a retro vending machine at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, repurposed to dispense small pieces of art.

The little boxes each had a miniature work of art. Here are some of them. Buying them is fun…. and addictive!

Four colorful abstract bird pictures with large eyes, green borders, and speckled bodies are displayed on a blue surface.
Three painted blocks with abstract designs, including one featuring a cow, are displayed on a black surface.
A hand holding a scroll with colorful drawings of flowers on it, placed on a blue surface.

Of course, we saw lots of amazing artwork there. They had an exhibit about Frida Kahlo and her influences.

An oil painting of two coconuts on a melon slice with a flag reading "Viva la vida," by Frida Kahlo, displayed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
I like the face-like coconut. This one is by Frida Kahlo.
An old green wooden window displaying vintage items, a sign advertising lodging for $3.00 per week.
I really liked these two paintings (above and below) with shelves of interesting things. Kind of like a cabinet of curiosities. I regret that I do not know the artists’ names.
A painting of shelves with various colorful items, including fruit, a toy horse, a rooster figure, and decorative objects. This piece belongs to the fine arts pictures collection and is featured at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Painting of a young girl in a pink dress, holding a doll, sitting on a chair with two toy figurines beside her.
See the Frida doll in this painting?
A person smiles in front of a framed portrait of Frida Kahlo displayed on a beige wall at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Me and Frida hanging out.
Wooden giraffe and antelope sculptures with saddles, displayed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts against a patterned textile backdrop.
Person taking a selfie in front of a framed painting of water lilies at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Monet and Me
A framed painting from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts depicts a woman in a red kimono holding a fan, with multiple fans adorning the background wall.
A woman smiles in front of a piece featuring children and a blue and white vase.
One of the really cool things about this museum was the way they arranged the exhibits and connected artworks. This vase by my head connects with the vase in the painting of the girls.
This abstract painting features geometric shapes, symbols, and bright colors such as yellow, red, blue, and white.
Painting by Marsden Hartley. I like how he creates his own modern “hieroglyphs”.
A shiny blue vintage toy car with whitewall tires and the word "Torpedo" on its side, displayed in a glass case at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Vintage ride-on car. It caught my eye because we have a similar firetruck ride-on.
A sculpture of a woman and framed pictures in an art gallery with red walls and wooden floor.
Another example of amazing arrangement in the museum.
A framed portrait of a young person holding an object, set against red floral wallpaper with a wooden chair below, is displayed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Beautiful!
A woman with glasses smiles in front of a framed portrait of a man holding a silver teapot.
A mixed media artwork featuring various objects like books, letters, and paper scraps arranged on a scratched black background.
Abstract art with intersecting black lines, colored shapes, and circles on a white background.
Kandinsky is a favorite of mine!
A visitor views a large painting of a dramatic sea rescue with a shark at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Here is Cindy in front of one of her favorite paintings. See more SHARK artworks at her blog.
Two women smiling and wearing glasses in a warmly lit indoor setting, taking pictures.
Me and Cindy. Check out her stuff!

In my next post, I will give you some great back-to-school ideas! Because that time will soon be here!

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About Marcia Beckett

Marcia is an elementary art teacher and loves painting, drawing, sculpture, art journaling and clay. Her blog, Art is Basic, features many exciting art projects for kids.

One Response to What is an Art-O-Mat? and Pictures from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts

  1. Barb Lavery says:
    July 28, 2019 at 7:48 am

    What a fabulous museum experience!

    Reply

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  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.