The city of Montreal has recently adopted four distrobotos, the indie art distributors made of retired cigarette vending machines. Brain child of local author Louis Rastelli, the innovative distrobotos scored a mention in New York Times’ 2001 Year in Ideas article. But up until last September, they were located exclusively in artsy venues like Caigibi, Zoobizarre and Salla Rossa.
Now they hold up prominant spots in the maisons de la culture of the Plateau, Cote-des-Neiges, Mercier, and the salle de diffusion Park-ex. Which means the two-dollar mini-cds, Montreal magnets, furry earrings, and hand-made chap-books will be available to a far wider audience.
To find a distroboto near you, or to learn how to get your mini art into the machines, see the distroboto website.