Backdropped by Halloween music, Scream Print was hosted at the Tarble Arts Center Friday, giving students and community members the opportunity to create colorful prints alongside offering prizes and shops to partake in.  

“It’s a great opportunity to share skills, party and celebrate art and Halloween,” said Tarble’s Deputy Director of Public Engagement Kaen Henry.  

Henry went on to explain that the Scream Print event was part of a week-long series of events called If You Know You Know that started Tuesday.  

IYKYK Week included daily events that specialized in learning about historical art and learning different crafts such as stitching or screen print. This event specifically dealt with screen printing.  

Students would grab a piece of fabric or free tote bag if they followed the Tarble Arts Center Instagram page and would then make their way to the studio.  

“I came because of the scream print and free bag,” said junior electrical engineering major Kevin Perry. 

In the studio, students could learn how to use a printer to paint pink or black logos on their fabrics that come from the names of last week’s IYKYK events. The event names were all meant to describe art, ranging from “art is here,” to “art is screaming” and to “art is making space.” 

“It’s a great way for students to have more interactions with Tarble and to get fashion influence,” said Tarble Arts Center employee and junior studio art major James Haddon.  

The Scream Print event also hosted a Charleston-native blues duo named The Ex Bombers who played for the event from 5-6 p.m.  

The Ex Bombers are known for their primal pop hooks, magnetic performances and witty songwriting that is committed to wax, according to their webpage.  

They use an electric eight-string octave bass, a jazz drum set and a pair of voices to make their blues meets garage meets jazz sound. The band has amassed a following since 2010 through live shows and vinyl releases on Cavetone Records.  

The Ex Bombers had merchandise available for students to purchase at the event.  

T-shirts, sweatshirts, pins, shot glasses, firepit skulls, stickers, tattoos, pride tote bags, notebooks, keychain bottle openers, CDs, vinyl records and more were available to purchase at their booth.  

Alongside the Ex Bombers group, several artists had stands set up around the museum selling handmade clothing. 

When arriving, students could enter their names into drawing for clothing and could enter a costume contest. Students were encouraged to dress up as their favorite artist or artwork. 

If they participated in the costume contest, they could get a free black hat with the word art in quotations. Tan hats saying art is dangerous were available to anyone who followed the Tarble on Instagram.  

Many EIU students attended the event. Some heard about it from friends or people working at the event. Students were also excited about Halloween, expressing their favorite part of the spooky season during the holiday inspired event.  

“My favorite part of Halloween is trick or treating,” said junior criminology major Joey Dhom. “I also love a good scare.” 

Dhom and Perry even expressed their passion for art during the event.  

“Open interpretation art speaks to me,” Dhom said. “You can talk about many different perspectives with many different people and learn their perspectives too.” 

Perry has his own interpretation.  

“I like how some art has roots that you can see in fields like math or other professions. There was an exhibit in the back with mechanics that caught my eye,” he said.  

Food and refreshments were also provided during the event.  

Michelle Doty can be reached at 581-2812 or at mrdoty@eiu.edu.