Photo By ArtWorks

Pay your money and get your art: original works for $5 from Art*O*mat

When you put money in the vending machine in ARTWORKS TIME WARNER CABLE GALLERY (811 Race St., Downtown), don't expect the standard candy or soft drink. Instead, you'll receive a small piece of original art. That's right, ArtWorks recently became the permanent home to Cincinnati's first Art*O*Mat, a former cigarette machine recycled to vend small original works of art. The Art*O*Mat, centered around the concept of taking art and "re-packaging" it to make it a part of daily life, is sponsored by Artists in Cellophane (A.I.C.), whose mission is to encourage art consumption by combining the worlds of art and commerce. Artist and Art*O*Mat creator CLARK WHITTINGTON says it's all about making art more accessible -- and it succeeds. While you're admiring the impressively adorned machine, you can also see ArtWorks' exhibit of original T-shirts from local, national and international artists who use appliqué, airbrush, heat transfer and hand-drawn techniques to create truly innovative garments. My favorite is artist MAGGIE WENSTRUP's "Peanut Butter Lid," a design in the shape of a shirt made up solely of peanut butter lids held together by yarn. Get over there -- you'll be glad you did. Through Oct. 29. ...

The last wisps of summer are fading, but visit NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY'S MAIN GALLERY (Fine Arts Center, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights) to catch one final tribute to summer: Summerfair Select: Exhibition of Grant Winners 2001-2003. The exhibit features pieces in a variety of media from 12 artists honored with Summerfair's Aid to Individual Artist Grant over the last three years. A remarkable scope of work populates this gallery, which seamlessly blends sculpture, ceramics, photography, painting, fabric and mixed-media assemblages against the cool wash of white walls and polished wood floor in a fluid showcase. Take some time to view all the works, but you won't want to miss DIANE KRUER's "Journal" series, an intriguing display of found and kept objects housed in glass test tubes displayed in wooden holders. Her distinctive way of "journaling" uses objects like ticket stubs, wrappers, barrettes, beads and more to document events and memories. LISA MERIDA-PAYTES' clay depictions rest on a bed of dirt and mulch, resembling warped and twisted remains of animals long forgotten. The effect is haunting, almost silencing in its stark simplicity. View all the honorees through Oct. 29. ...

Travel outside of your comfort zone Thursday to Creature Discomforts, an exhibit of paintings by artist HOLLAND DAVIDSON opening at UC CLERMONT COLLEGE'S FIRST CLERMONT ART GALLERY (4200 Clermont College Drive, Batavia) Davidson has exhibited at many shows in the area over the past decade, dazzling local audiences with her thoughtful yet fun pieces. And in the cozy elegance of this gallery, a recent addition to Clermont College's campus, you'll probably have the chance to pick Davidson's brain about her work -- or just introduce yourself. Opening reception: 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Through Oct. 28. ...

It seems college galleries are busy places these days, so mark your calendar now for the Oct. 28 opening (5-7 p.m.) of the Juried Student Exhibition at the ART ACADEMY'S CHIDLAW GALLERY (951 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park). The exhibition will feature work by current Art Academy students in a variety of media. Artist and printmaker MARK PATSFALL, founder of Mark Patsfall Graphics Inc., whose impressive work was seen most recently in last year's The Method and the Matrix at the Weston Art Gallery, will judge the exhibition. First, second and third places will receive monetary awards, so competition is fierce. It sounds like a promising show. Through Nov. 24.

Mini Reviews

At the ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI (951 Eden Park Drive) Susan Chrysler White's current exhibition is a tasty medley of chaos and deliberation, tossed with an approach that's calculated and methodical. White uses vibrant color that radiates and sings. The pieces range from ideals reminiscent of love-filled nights in Vienna to repetitive images of sound vibrations. Through Oct. 24. (Jacquelyn Vaughn) Grade: B