Tour of Designtex Surface Imaging

Designtex Surface Imaging (formerly Portland Color) is a large format printing company. It prints wall coverings, textiles, displays, signage, and exhibit materials for a diverse national clientele – from Google to Bloomingdales to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The facility contains UV cured flatbed and roll to roll printers, latex printers, aqueous and solvent dye sublimation fabric printers, digital laser photo enlargers, and a variety of finishing equipment. A majority of Designtex SI production employees hold BFA or MFA degrees – many from the Maine College of Art. Many of them have shown at Space Gallery, including Scott Peterman, Tonee Harbert, Karen Gelardi, Irina Skornyakova, and Mark Marchesi.

The tour will be followed by a discussion with Founder Andy Graham, who will discuss both the evolution of technology at the facility, the balance between corporate work and artistic sensibility, and the value of a creative workforce in a traditional manufacturing company.