You may be thinking "What is a Steamroller Print Festival?" Here's the easiest way to explain.
Artists transfer large prints onto paper or fabric with an actual construction-grade steamroller.
But for those who do not know what printmaking is, here is a more complete answer.
Relief printing is when a design is carved into a piece of wood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard). When finished carving out the design, oil-based ink (paint) is rolled over the surface, inking the uncarved portions of the design. The paper or fabric is then positioned on top of the design and the steamroller, used to flatten the surfaces of roads during construction, roll over and transfer the ink onto the medium. Artists help share this forgotten art with the community by selling their unique works at affordable prices.
The Steamroller Print Festival, which takes place April 30 and is free to the public, is Artspace at Untitled's largest event of the year, celebrating the vibrant Deep Deuce district and the local artists who are integral to OKC's art community. The 2022 Steamroller Festival will be held on Northeast 3rd Street, between North E.K. Gaylord and Oklahoma Ave. It will begin at 9 a.m. and go on until 6 p.m. The festival is free to attend and will have fun activities for children to enjoy! View the full festival map here.
During the festival, ARTSPACE will allow 40 attendees indoors at a time to view the beautiful large-scale exhibitions in the building. Most of the festival is held outdoors and will feature 45+ local vendors, four food trucks, beer trucks by Anthem Brewing and Prairie Wolf and multiple kids' tents and activities. With a live music stage, attendees can expect live soul, jazz and indie rock music throughout the entire festival. Don't forget to stop inside and check out their Steamroller Spotlight Artists Exhibition feature the work of 23 local artists from around Oklahoma City.
All participants, volunteers and visitors are encouraged to wear a mask. The festival will provide sanitizing and hand-washing stations, outdoor handicap restrooms and free masks.
Enjoy an art-filled day in Deep Deuce and explore all that the neighborhood has to offer. There is so much to experience at the 2022 Steamroller Festival that you could easily make a day of it!
