Abram Construction Meets Art in Downtown Arlington

Big Ink Steamroller street poster printing comes to South Street Art Festival

South Street Art Festival, the longest running fine arts festival in the Arlington Cultural District, announces a new artistic collaboration -- Big Ink Steamroller -- just in time for this weekend's big event.

Now in its seventh year, South Street Art Festival is set for October 11-13, 2019. It takes place on South Street in Downtown Arlington and will feature over sixty local, regional and national artists selling their wares. Joining them for the first time is Big Ink Steamroller, presented by Studio 204, Inky Lips Letterpress and 4 Acre Press.

How does Big Ink Steamroller work? Artists will carve unique designs into giant linoleum blocks. Each block will then be inked by hand and printed onto paper using a steamroller as the press.

According to Virgil Scott and Kim Neiman, owners of Studio 204, the steamroller printing event generates an environment of community engagement, teamwork and education.

More than 15 artists will be participating in the street poster printing event, including artists from the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas A&M Commerce University, the University of North Texas, and independent print studios.

Big Ink Steamroller takes place on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on S. East Street, which is adjacent to J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill. Viewing is free to the public.

“Downtown Arlington is excited to bring this live art demonstration to the streets, and the star of the show, next to the artists, will be the big steamroller used to press ink onto paper,” said Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation. “Since early last year Downtown Arlington has been impacted by Abram Street construction, so it’s fun to bring in that same construction equipment to help us make some amazing art in the street.”

More Information

South Street Art Festival is free to the public, with food, drink and art for sale. For information, visit www.southstreetartfest.com.

Big Ink Steamroller is a presentation of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, and is produced in cooperation with the South Street Art Festival, Studio 204, Inky Lips Letterpress and 4 Acre Press. Sponsors for the event include Clampitt Paper Company, Frost Bank, and Rental One.

About Downtown Arlington

The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation serves as the champion and advocate for Downtown Arlington. It serves as the steward for the Arlington Cultural District, designated by the State of Texas in 2016. This non-profit organization also manages the Downtown Arlington Business Improvement District (BID), providing enhanced services to make Downtown Arlington a cleaner, safer and more vibrant place for visitors, investors, and residents. For information, visit www.downtownarlington.org.