It started innocently enough: a well-meaning artist with a penchant for ink-stained fingers and a love of abstract expressionism.
But things quickly spiralled out of control as the artist's attempts at creating the perfect abstract masterpiece devolved into a mess of smudged lines and ink-splattered chaos.
Neighbors reported hearing the sound of frantic scrubbing and muttered curses emanating from the artist's studio, followed by the scent of turpentine and despair.
A local art critic described the scene as "a crime against humanity" and "a blight on our otherwise thriving art community."
As the ink blotting disaster spread to other studios in the area, local authorities were forced to intervene, deploying hazmat suits and scrubbing teams to contain the crisis.
Today, the area is still recovering from the Great Ink Blotting Disaster of 2022, with many artists forced to rethink their creative processes and local businesses forced to stock up on ink removers.
Visit the Ink Blotting Memorial Meet the Survivors of the Ink Blotting Disaster Learn about the Recovery Efforts