Flotsam’s Harvest Cover. Mike Shine Image

Mike Shine currently has an installation titled “Flotsam’s Harvest” at White Walls Gallery that is open until April 6th. It combines street art, painting, film and print. On the opening day he and his roving band performed a medicine show and launched his graphic novelle “Flotsam’s Harvest”. Each provides coded tips and hints, offered to help viewers solve the dark, mysterious “World Riddle” posed by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book, Thus Spake Zarathustra.

The illustrated hardcover novella, called Flotsam’s Harvest, is the tale of Dr. Flotsam’s encounters with ten people throughout the course of history. Written as a “mental screenplay”, its pages contain layered clues to the World Riddle. In addition, proverbs and “Flotsamisms”, which also provide clues, are posted regularly on the web, at flotsams harvest and facebook flotsams harvest.

Dr. Flotsam and his roving band of carny bastards (comprised of thugs, musicians, singers, and four statuesque Nordic valkyries) have performed at SFMOMA, 941 Geary, and are annual regulars at the SF Outside Lands festival- where they have their own stage/installation/medicine show/roots music mini festival, called “Dr. Flotsam’s Hell Brew Revue”.

At the end of the Harvest exhibition, viewers’ answers to the World Riddle (submitted on facebook flotsams harvest) will be reviewed by Dr. Flotsam. And winner(s) will be awarded paintings as prizes.

The book is available for purchase at White Walls Gallery. An audio version can be heard and the book can be downloaded for free at Flotsamsharvest.com.

Check out Shine street pieces. Mike Shine