Local artists, students showcase for steamrolling print jam

Local artists and East Carolina University printmaking students will have their art on display at the Steamroller Print Jam with live music and food.

The event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Trollingwood Taproom and Brewery, located at 707 Dickinson Ave. Open and free to the public, the ECU printmaking program hopes it will be a night filled with art, music and fun. Afterwards, they will also be hosting an after-party at Whirligig Stage, where all the art will be hung and available for purchase from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to Rodrigo Pacheco, main organizer of the event. Admission to the event costs $5.

Pacheco, an ECU alumnus who graduated with a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in printmaking, said he hopes the event will shed some light on this art form that is rather unique from popular works.

“It is super hands-on, everything is carved by hand even the wood, and the size of it is going to be very appealing and is going to grab the attention of everyone attending and walking by the event,” Pacheco said. “The imagery is very bold and very striking, similar to comic books, so I hope the community finds an appreciation for it.”

According to Pacheco, some of the artists and musicians attending the event include Jacob Parker, a printmaking artist and former classmate of Pacheco’s who will make his printmaking for everyone live. Along with the artists there will also be a special guest musician from Boone, North Carolina that goes by the name Lavier that Pacheco hopes attendees will enjoy.

Heather Muise, an assistant professor of printmaking at ECU, is having her students present their artwork at the Steamroller Jam event. She said this event is a great way for the community to learn more about printmaking while having fun.

“I got involved with the Steamroller Jam event through a former student of mine. Rodrigo Pacheco contacted me and asked me if my students and I wanted to be a part of the Print Jam. This is our second year having this event at the Trollingwood Brewery, but overall it is our fifth year doing the event,” Muise said.

The Print Jam has become really popular throughout the years. It has been a great way for other ECU students to see what printmaking is about and what printmaking students create, Muise said.

“This is my students’ final project and it took about a month to create. We have a around 10 students’ artwork will be at the event. Students design their own artwork, without any target theme,” Muise said. “Everything that is carved out, will be white and the black surrounding areas of the design will be inked up with the steamroller. At the event, we will use a rolling pen covered with ink and the artwork will be on the ground on top a fabric.”

This is Pacheco’s second year being apart of organizing this event for the community since 2012, when one of his professors invited him to be apart of a print jam when he was a senior in college.

“When I was an undergrad, my professor invited me to do one of these events, and it was inspiring to see people come together and make live art,” Pacheco said. “After I graduated, I wanted to bring art back to the community like my professor did because I haven't seen a lot of live art or anything like that in Greenville in a while.”

One of the printmaking students, Hunter Davis, aspires to be a doctor and her artwork expresses the femininity of women and her artwork will be included in the event.

“Hunter has a great piece about femininity that she has been working on. The good thing about printmaking is there are so many forms. Printmaking is a democratic art, and is cheap and affordable. Printmaking is easily approachable and this event showcases that, the community can actually participate and see the process of printmaking,” Muise said.

Davis, a senior painting and printmaking major, said she decided to draw the female body for her artwork.

“I chose this piece because it is a fun subject that I always (have) been fascinated with. Many people are uncomfortable with the female form, which is a great reason to show this artwork at the event. The female anatomy and reproductive organs can be used for symbolism of femininity, and I added fruit around the female to further promote that symbolism,” Davis said.

Pacheco said since printmaking is an underrated art form, he hopes it will inspire young artists to create freely whether that be printmaking, painting or anything that makes them happy.

“I want the students to see that they can do their own thing and bring people together to put something on for the community that is positive through their art,” Pacheco said. “As far as selling your art, I want them to know that they can put something out there into the community and they will support you.”

For more information about the event, visit the event’s Facebook page here.