![]() (The machines are pieces of art themselves too.) Their biggest concentration is in the United States with a few locations overseas, as far as Australia. He shared his process behind creating these one-of-a-kind pieces and the selection process for artists who create their contents. We were thrilled to meet Clark at Delurk Gallery in the Winston-Salem downtown art district during our visit. And trust us – the thrill lives on and it's still exciting to experience as adults! (This is what most lattes these days and you don't have anything to show for that afterwards except for extra calories!)Ī person simply inserts the token into an Art-o-mat machine, selects which knob to pull for the desired artist's work, and enjoys the thrill and nostalgia liken to pulling a toy machine's level as a child. We love the affordable cost of a token (about $5 each) enables any consumer to walk away with an original piece of artwork if you wish. (Especially if you love a game of “I Spy.) ![]() Spotting the Art-o-mat machines around Winston-Salem is one of the most fun, free things to do in the city. What Clark created with the Art-o-mat is not only an incredibly original concept, unlike anything else in the world, but also democratizes art. The concept came to him in the late 1990s when cigarette machines were becoming…well, nearly extinct and ending up in the trash. Spot the Art-o-mats and Support ArtistsĬlark Whittington, a self-proclaimed “retro geek,” had a unique idea to recycle old cigarette machines about 20 years ago. There are no statues or monuments to distinguish the graves of the rich from the poor. Men, women and children are buried separately. Moravians are chronologically buried in the order they were “called home to be with the Lord,” as a sign on site explains. We enjoyed the rich red, brown and green tones that painted the landscape during our fall visit. It's visually beautiful, with white headstones that lay parallel to the earth and Cypress trees rising from the ground. Old Salem CemeteryĪnother incredibly unique thing in Old Salem is its cemetery. We found it was very worthwhile to talk to the volunteers and employees at the museum they provided a wealth of knowledge about Winston-Salem. The museum will give you good backstory of the town's founding that will make your visit more meaningful. Tickets also give you access to a few shops exclusive to ticket-holders. ![]() ![]() We recommend buying a ticket to visit the Old Salem Museum & Gardens with that being said. (And you can in most cases!) Old Salem Museum But, to to the contrary, Old Salem is simply a lovely community you're able to enjoy as if you live there and pull your car right up to the buildings. We envisioned it a lot like Williamsburg, Virginia's American Revolution Museum, which is all fenced in and contained within the boundaries of the property. It's a motif you'll see repeated over and over again as you partake in fun things to do in Winston-Salem. Learning about the famous Moravian star, many of which you can see hanging in the covered bridge photo below, was particularly valuable. They relocated here from other regions of the United States after emigrating from what is presently known as the Czech Republic. One of the things we valued during our first trip to Old Salem, was learning more about the Moravian community that moved to the area in the mid 1700s. It's a “Living Legend Town” (one of a few in America) comprised of a small community of historic homes and shops you can walk around at your leisure. This is the best place to start your visit because this Winston-Salem attraction will give you a great basis for the area's history. You Must Tour Old Salem on Your First Visit to the Area ![]() It's a hop, skip and a jump from Raleigh and we gladly packed our bags for a weekend getaway. During one of the first things we did in Winston-Salem I said, “Sugar may be an easy way to lure people to a town.” I smiled as we tasted the famous wafer-thin Moravian cookies made in Old Salem.Īnd that may be so, but the history of Winston-Salem attractions, including great restaurants and a walkable downtown area, are some fun things that continue to draw people back to this North Carolina, Piedmont region city. ![]()
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