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What Is Smash Printing? Even Better Than It Sounds

Most artisanal practices don't require heavy vehicles

By Kat Bauman - November 1, 2016

in Fine Art | Hand Tools

If you're unfamiliar with traditional printmaking chances are good you'll have never seen Smash Printing, the closest thing to 'extreme printmaking' I can imagine. To execute this kind of print you prepare a physical woodblock, linocut or etched plate up to a multiple feet wide, ink it up, get your paper prepped on top, and then just drive a steam roller over it.

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As delicate as block cutting and type-setting processes usually are, this intense method still produces nicely thanks to the even amount of pressure. The practice is used around the country, often in conjunction with (and sometimes referred to as) a Wayzgoose. The concept of the Wayzgoose is far older than diesel machinery, dating back to a practice among early printers of the Middle Ages. It was a festive occasion hosted by a master printer for his staff to celebrate the end of summer, use up old material, and take a welcomed break from usual labors.

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In a modern context, a Wayzgoose is most often a creative summit and party combined, with printing artists coming from all around a region to share work, network, and drink. (Though hopefully once they're off the roller.)

As with many DIY creative practices, the oddball idea of steamroller printing is generally attributed to a couple places most starting in the early '00s. Chief among the popularizers is the Tacoma Wayzgoose. The Tacoma Wayzgoose started in 2004, as a collaboration between King's Books and letterpress printer Jessica Spring, and the first few years were small and quirky events. The appeal was particularly niche since letterpress and analog printing hadn't seen the visibility and revival in appreciation they're heading towards today. The steamroller arrived a few years in, brainstormed as a fun way to make the quiet and creative profession a little more flashy and a lot more social.

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Since then the technique has taken off at other printing events from coast to coast and beyond. The prints themselves can be enormous, beautiful, detailed, and bold, but seasoned printers recommend using blocks you're ready to retire. The work produced might be strong, but in a strength competition with a steamroller... the steamroller usually wins.