Artists set up various designs and custom print tee shirt and other items on the spot.
Benefits & Problems Addressed
Wearable art & branding: Shirts provide a wearbale, durable canvas for local artists or local messaging
Support for arts & artists: Artists get work & local screen printers get visibility
A new twist for event planners: Screen printing provide a festive, interesting backdrop.
Tips & Techniques
Preparation: (1) Contact a local screen print company to see if they have access to a portable ink dryer to speed the drying process; (2) gather local artists willing to create designs for silkscreening (designs will need to be single color); (3) find a venue that can hold a large crowd & space for silkscreening rigs as well as electricity needed for the dryer; (4) set a budget to buy supplies and ink, including renting the dryer if needed. Consider charging $5-$10 per garment to cover costs and raise funds.; (5) Advertise some of the designs in promotional products.
Process: Chart out the process & stations for (1) registration, payment & labeling, (2) picking an artist/designer, (3) getting the shirt printed, (4) getting the shirt to the dryer, and (5) getting the dried shirt to its owner.
Logistics: (1) Provide t-shirts for sale or have BYOS (Bring Your Own Shirt); (2) label shirts with masking tape so they don't get lost in the process; (3) have people form a line in front of artists' stations - printing takes around 4 minutes/shirt; (5) have shirt runners take printed shirts (ink will be wet) to the dryer; (6) Have someone watch the dryer (it will be hot) and additional handlers to get shirts to owners. If there is a backlog, have a table.
Themes: Consider artistic themes for high profile initiatives such as equity or environmental messaging.
Private companies: new companies will sponsor live screen print events.
Hot Buttons: Cost, logistics, high messy factor
Resources
Annual Print pParty: SartQ
Image: Flickr/BurnAway