See This: The Free Art Machine At Jackalope Coffee & Tea

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 11, 2013 7:30PM

Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist

Leo Rosen and Max Goldman are the founders of local art collective Chicago the Beautiful and the folks behind The Free Art Machine, a public art experiment that aims to expose the works of local artists while fostering an appreciation of art wherever the machine operates.

The "machine" is itself an art installation—a collection of small pieces of artwork hung on a larger frame. The small pieces of art may be removed and kept by viewers without cost (although there is a donation box next to the larger frame) and, if a viewer wants to find out more information about the artist whose work they took, they can look up that artist's bio and CV online using the artists initials found on the back of the blocks.

Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist

The Free Art Machine currently calls Jackalope Coffee & Tea (755 W. 32nd Street) home with an official launch party last Thursday. Chicago the Beautiful have provided Jackalope with over 300 pieces of art to replace on the larger frame. Come to Jackalope for the Free Art Machine; stay for the Red Velvet Latte and Griffin sandwich.