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Visual Arts

Making Stencils with Mike Shine

By Kristin Farr | Sep 22, 2012

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Mike Shine's interests range from surfing to carnivals and his dynamic approach to art-making manifests as immersive installations, which he's created throughout the Bay Area at museums, galleries, and even at "The Shine Shack," his home in Bolinas. His artwork is inspired by carnival aesthetics and his own narrative about Dr. Flotsam, a clown character who represents the darker aspects of life and was inspired by the legend of Faust and the fictional demon Mephistopheles.


Shine has recently been working on large-scale, multi-layered stencils to create murals in the Tenderloin. We paid a visit to the Shine Shack and asked him to give us a primer on stencil-making, and tell us more about his style and his history of working with stencils, which are one of the most accessible tools for creating a message and spreading it (or spray painting it) widely.


Dr. Flotsam and the Carny Bastards by Mike Shine is on view through October 13, 2012 at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. For more information, visit 111minnagallery.com.

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