More than 20 artists will join together to print — with a steamroller — big and beautiful linocuts created under the theme of “The Nature of Vashon,” from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28, in the parking lot of Vashon Center for the Arts’ (VCA) Blue Heron Education Center.

The event is free, with prints available for sale at VCA as part of the organization’s Summer Arts Fest.

The event — long in the making — was the brainchild of local artist Brian Fisher, a longtime and highly respected printmaker on Vashon. It was also inspired by the annual WAZGoose Festival in Tacoma — celebrating all forms of printmaking — during which some island printmakers have joined others to steamroll large prints.

The local lead-up to the event began in the fall of 2023 when members of Quartermaster Press, a local artists’ collective, offered classes at Swiftwater Gallery for anyone interested in learning more about printmaking. Students included both new and experienced printmakers, many of whom decided to contribute larger linocuts for “The Nature of Vashon” event.

These artists then selected their subjects and carved over the winter and spring. Large prints made from these linocuts, measuring 36 by 36 inches, will be steamrolled out during “The Nature of Vashon” event. Some prints will be made from one large linocut created by one artist; others will be a collaboration of multiple smaller linocuts by multiple artists.

The event is part of a larger focus on printmaking that will continue this fall at VCA. In November, VCA Gallery will show a group exhibition of Vashon printmakers. In addition, the atrium will be filled with prints made by artists from Oaxaca, Mexico, invited and curated by local printmaker Laurie Brown.

Quartermaster Press is a 10-person art collective on Vashon, founded in 1993 by Valerie Wilson, that is dedicated to the exploration of traditional and innovative printmaking techniques.

A linocut by island artist Lisa Guy that was made at the WAZGoose Festival in Tacoma. (Courtesy photo)