11th Annual SVC Steamroller Smackdown

This past Saturday marked the 11th annual Steamroller Smackdown at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. It was a grand three ring circus with a heavy metal marketplace of used type and materials, printer's and book artist vendors, food & live music by the twin Canote Brothers, keepsake poster printing in the letterpress studio, and a benefit auction. At center stage was a 2-ton steamroller for some parking lot printmaking fun. Creative teams assembled from all parts of the Northwest to design and print their oversized linoleum artworks. The grand prize trophy was awarded to Keegan Wenkman of Keegan Meegan for his Printing is Easy giant 2-color linocut poster.
::Above photos by Alex DeSpain. All other photos are my own except where noted.  

Sales of new & used type and printing equipment carry on under the big tent.

The pit crew at The Evolution Press reviews their 1st impression of the original Heidel-Rod.
::Photo by Jungstudio 

One of several rooms full of printing and book arts vendors. Below are a number of posters for sale from Keegan Meegan.
::Both of these pho by Alex DeSpain

David Black's robot prints. Black's Bots!

Jr. letterpress printer vendor, Aiden Wilkson proudly displays his 3 color print, X Press. Just behind his print I found a discreetly hidden stash of candy wrappers. Not sayin' who they belonged to.

Justin LaRosa of Physical Fiction takes the cake for his innovative Lego endeavors. (If it were me, I would have awarded him an honorary Hostess cupcake from the original old bakery next door to SVC). He's been doing this for some time actually, and gaining recognition as a Lego print meister. Justin made a type-high base to accommodate his little Lego parts and designs images with the patience of a hand typesetter. The multi-colored posters are printed on a large showcard press giving his illustrations the appearance of enlarged pixelated icons when completed.

Mare Blocker, of the M Kimberly Press displayed a handcut linoleum text.

Stumptown Printers of Portland, Oregon must have some really big presses to handle this wooden type. No wonder there are so many clearcuts in the Northwest!
     Much gratitudeness goes out to the good folks at SVC who have done so much to foster interest in the printing arts by continually organizing this festive event over the years! Making it safe to take printing to the streets!