MACHINE DEALS OUT CRISP TEES

YOU might have bought a soft drink or a snack from a vending machine, but what about a T-shirt?

That’s now possible at the Empire Theatre, with a local design and marketing company launching a retro machine that spits out cool shirts designed by emerging city artists.

Rare Squid Creative’s Paddy Long, Josh Willson and Bindi Wenitong unveiled the concept at the Armitage Centre last week, which was commissioned by the Empire Theatre in time for the Artlands Conference.

Three amazing pieces by Toowoomba artists Ashley Churchward, Amber Jones and Johanna Park were selected for the machine.

Mr Long said he became inspired by the concept of “vending” shirts about a year ago, snapping up the early-90s device off Facebook for less than $200.

“We were called three weeks before this Artlands exhibition and were asked if we could put together this machine in time,” he said.

“Over the past two and half weeks, we put it all together.”

The payment conversion, painting and screen printing were covered by the Empire, with help from the University of Southern Queensland.

The machine is available during Armitage Centre opening hours.

Picture: Nev Madsen. SHIRT SNACK: Showing off the new T-shirt vending machine at the Armitage Centre are (from left) Rare Squid’s Josh Willson, Bindi Wenitong and Paddy Long with artist Ashley Churchward.