On Saturday morning, a crowd looked on in awe as a steamroller drove over hand-carved and inked woodblocks, printing an original image on muslin cloth. The crowd broke into cheers as the image was revealed, perfectly printed.

Oversized woodblock printing is the main attraction at Print Jam, put on in Portland by communal art studio Running With Scissors, but the event itself is an opportunity for local artists to gather and show their work.

Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of Print Jam, which Running With Scissors Art Studios owner Kate Anker said is a unique, treasured community event celebrating printmaking and the creative spirit.

“We began it as a way to celebrate and connect with the diverse print community in the Greater Portland area,” Anker said. “We also wanted to show people in an exaggerated way how prints are made, how artists work in community and how we can all participate in the making and appreciation of art.”

Local artists have been preparing for the event for months, together carving each woodblock into an original image that is then inked and driven over with the steamroller during Print Jam, creating a tapestry of art.

Throughout the day, printmakers also showed and sold their own work out of booths outside Running With Scissors.

Hope Rovelto, a print artist and owner of Little Chair Printing, spent the day live-printing the event’s official design on T-shirts and tote bags, with all funding going back to Running With Scissors.

Rovelto said Print Jam is a great way for artists to get out into the community.

“If you look around, there are artists all around,” Rovelto said. “We’re all trying to make a living making our art, so it’s great to support each other.”

Evelyn Wong, a print artist at Pickwick Independent Press, said the event is special because it’s made up of artists collaborating to create art.

“Coming together to have this space is just fun,” Wong said. “You don’t get to print with a steamroller every day.”

Print Jam, originally named “The Steamy Summer Print Jam,” was created by Anker and Running With Scissors print shop manager Carter Shappy in 2017. It’s usually a hot day on the asphalt in Maine, Anker said, but the collaborative spirit makes it special.

“What’s special about Print Jam is the opportunity for artists to share their process and work directly with the public,” Anker said. “We aim to make printmaking accessible and exciting for everyone.”

Community members and visitors strolled around the event Saturday, browsing art created by local printmakers, sipping cold beverages from local food trucks, and watching the steamroller make unique designs.

Cassie Piontels and Christina Moulder brought their friends and family. They had always wanted to check out the scene and vibe, Piontels said.

“It’s so imaginative to use the steamroller,” Moulder said. “It’s a great public event. It’s important to have the arts out there.”

Portland resident Hannah Tripp, whose friend is visiting from out of town, said she saw the steamroller on social media and thought it was “really cool.”

“I love an art event,” Tripp said. “I thought it was a perfect and fun thing to do on a Portland day.”

Running With Scissors also held its first ever raffle on Saturday, aiming to raise money to support community events like Print Jam.

It’s important, Rovelto said, to keep community art alive.

“It’s all about community,” Rovelto said. “Artists really need each other.”