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Opening Friday May 1st at Nemo, Beneath the Surface: Flora, Fantasy, and Fable in Surface Design is an exhibition of work by an international roster of surface designers curated by designers Claudia Brown and Jessie Whipple Vickery of the Portland-based Pattern People. If you think pattern begins and ends at your recently rediscovered love of wallpaper and your boyfriend’s all-over print t-shirt, prepare to get your mind blown.

This is a rare chance for an overview of what’s happening in the happening world of surface design with designers from the U.S, Japan, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the U.K. including Anna Giertz, Chelsea Heffner, Dan Funderburgh, Deanne Cheuk, Eno Henze, George Moskal, Joanna Bean, Jo Hamilton, Katrin Wiens, Kinpro, Kustaa Saksi, Laundry Studio, Linn Olofsdotter, Marc Curtis, Michael Leon, Mike Perry, Nama Rococo, Osmose, Pattern People and Timorous Beasties

Expect work, “Focusing on escapist and fantastical themes, the exhibit features utopian landscapes, folkloric fables, and interpretations of magical inner journeys.”

The opening reception is tonight Friday, May 1st, from 6-10 PM, with music provided by Spencer Product.

Big sale at Olio United (1028 SE Water) if you get in before May 15. The girls are moving (online for now) and before they do, they’ve put everything on sale including their incredible fixtures by sculptor/woodworker Ben Hull and artist Ryan Hayes.

Last time I was in, they had such great stuff from Pigeon Toe Ceramics plus lots of Emily Katz. Go see.