Ink the Block Party: A Micro Arts Festival
September 20, 2025
Barry Zimmerman in process at Ink the Block Party, Photos by Cody Giles
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the parking lot just off Gray street in downtown Norman transformed into a lively experience for the community. Ink the Block Party, a free, all-ages celebration of Norman's local creative and entertainment community, brought together muralists, printmakers, market vendors, musicians, and neighbors for a full day of art, music, and collaboration in the heart of the Walker Arts District.
The event was born out of a simple conviction shared by its organizers: Norman's creative community coming together to host an arts centered event. Organized collaboratively across multiple businesses; Oscillator Press, Uncanny Art House, Gray Owl, and Opolis teams came together to establish this micro festival, with additional support from The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, The Depot, Norman Arts Council, and Silver Star Construction. Ink the Block Party was funded through community fundraising and in-kind partnerships.
Eric Piper and Pam Sanford ink blocks for the next steamrolled print.
Steamroller Printmaking
One of the most visually striking elements of the day was the large-scale woodblock printing demonstration hosted by Oscillator Press. This demonstration was made possible with support from Silver Star Construction and Firehouse Art Center. Sixteen artists participated in the printmaking experience, including Astac Art, Derrick Adams, Casey Gilman, Kori Caparelli, Judith Coker, Udit Harper Gorman, Matthew Gilliland, OU Print Club, Wes Kramer, Lumen Miramontes, Astrid Moan, Nicole Moan, Roxann Murphy, Eric Piper, Jared Power, and Barbara M. Raffety. The steamroller printing brought crowds in close, turning the act of making art into a public spectacle and a shared experience.
Chris McDaniel and Dane Heins working on murals
The Mural Zone
Uncanny Art House brought the paint. Five muralists were commissioned and compensated for their work, producing large-scale pieces live throughout the day. Aditi and Dane Heins, Nayelly Morales Rojo, Jaiye Farrell, and Chris McDaniel each took on dedicated mural stations, joined by special guest Barry Zimmerman. Alongside the featured artists, a community paint section invited anyone in attendance to pick up a brush and leave their mark on the festival. The finished murals remained on public display for three months following the event, extending the life of the work well beyond the day itself.
The Arts Market
The arts market drew together a wide cross-section of Norman's creative and cultural ecosystem. Vendors and organizations included Abovesnakes, Aster Kordona, Charmtopia, Erin Gericke Art, Michelle W. Sparks, Katie Pendley, OU Print Club, Wesley Kramer, Skelley Queen, Unicorn Workers, Star Baby Heaven, and Red Dirt Collective. Community organizations represented included Norman Music Fest, Wildcat Lending Library, Norman Free PAL, Pioneer Library System, and Firehouse Art Center. Gray Owl Coffee kept attendees fueled throughout the day, and neighboring businesses including The Garage, Redbrick Bar, The Bluebonnet, Sooner Daiquiri, Prohibition Lounge, and The Custard Factory added to the festive atmosphere of the block.
The Music
The stage ran from 2:00 PM and continued well into the evening, featuring ten acts that spanned genres and generations of Norman's music scene. The lineup included Desilu, Mikey Keys, Prom Mom, Cowboy Jr., The Geoffs, Limp Wizurds, Douglas, and Laine Bergeron, followed by DJ Bug and DJ Bi-Furious closing out the night. The stage was made possible with support from Opolis and The Depot, two of Norman's most beloved music institutions.
What It Proved
This event showed that for-profit creative businesses and local nonprofits can lead community investment without waiting for institutional permission. This is what is possible when you build on a foundation in genuine community relationships. Ink the Block Party is another great example of what Downtown Norman is capable of when its creative community decides to work together.
