Beloved Art Box vending machine moves from Blue Hill to Waterfall Arts in Belfast

The Art Box — a beloved vintage vending machine stocked with original small-format artwork by local artists — has found a new home at Waterfall Arts in Belfast after more than a decade on the Blue Hill peninsula.

The project was founded by Michele Levesque, who was inspired by Art-O-Mat machines she encountered around the country and envisioned something rooted in Maine’s local creative community. After acquiring a vintage vending machine, Levesque invited artists to contribute tiny original works — each measuring 2.5 by 5 inches or smaller — transforming the machine into a miniature gallery of surprise and discovery.

The Art Box came to Waterfall Arts through program director Amy Tingle, who first encountered it on a road trip in 2016. “My wife and I discovered the Art Box on a trip to Acadia, before we had any idea we might eventually move to Maine,” Tingle said. “I ended up with an incredible sardine can piece by Sara Doremus — and nearly got into a fistfight with another customer who wanted it after she saw me pull it from the machine. It still hangs on my studio wall today.”

For $20, visitors receive an original piece of art. The machine’s small glass windows display representative examples of each artist’s work, but every piece inside is unique. “You never know exactly what you’re going to get,” Tingle said. “I love that people who might not otherwise buy art are tempted to take a chance on a piece.”

The Art Box is now on view at Waterfall Arts, 256 High St., Belfast. See waterfallarts.org for more information.