Studio art students impress with live t-shirt printing

Students in the Studio Art program are getting attention on campus with a live t-shirt printing session, using their original designs. The "ImPRESS Yourself" event is happening outside Togo Salmon Hall all day today.

There is a suggested donation of $10 per design for those who bring their own t-shirts. Extra shirts will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis for $20, including the design.

The session was inspired by the program's visiting artist, Ryan O'Malley, professor of printmaking at Texas A&M.

"This is an example of 600 year-old technology in the twenty-first century," said O'Malley. "When people can see how an image is made, they feel more connected to it."

John Ford, professor in the program, said the project provides students an entrepreneurial opportunity to apply what they've learned in class. Students are printing fine art images and generating populist, wearable art, he said.

"The first response from students is, 'I'm afraid,' and they have to learn quickly that there's a sense of immediacy," said O'Malley. "They have to get out there and make art, not worrying about their marks."

"A lot of students at McMaster don't know there's a studio art program here," said Keisha Neoma-Quinn, a third-year studio art student. "We've never done a live printing session, and I think it's important for us to get our art out on campus."

"One guy had his rep suit printed, and another person brought their jean jacket. It's pretty cool to see what people are bringing," said Neoma-Quinn.

T-shirts can be bought in TSH-114, which is also home to the university's fine arts studio. Proceeds from the event will go toward other student initiatives in the Studio Art program such as visiting artists and educational programming.