Artist Spotlight: Alice Shaw

Artist and educator Alice Shaw’s childhood roots in coastal Marin inspired her current exhibition at Bolinas Museum entitled Alice Shaw: Motherland, featuring images of the local landscape, flora, and fauna. To emphasize her reverence for the natural world and our need to protect it, she has applied elegant 22-karat gold leaf with intricate precision onto to her photographs. Shaw grew up in the 1960s and 70s at the historic White Gate Ranch that once stood above Stinson Beach with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding land and sea. Her parents and their friends are renowned artists, and from an early age, Shaw carried a passion for creativity. The award-winning Art Shops Program of the Bolinas-Stinson School, where she learned painting, ceramics, airbrush, textiles, woodworking, and metalwork in jewelry making, furthered her artistic endeavors. 

 Shaw earned a BFA and an MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute and trained as a photographer. She taught at UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University, the California College of the Arts, the San Francisco Art Institute, and Mills College. She is an Artadia Grant awardee, and her work is in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. Her monograph, People Who Look Like Me, was published by Gallery 16 in San Francisco, where her work is represented, and her large-scale artwork, No Other Lands Their Glory Know, is permanently installed at Gate G5 at the San Francisco International Airport.

Q. When did art come into your life?

A. I spent my formative years on a ranch in Stinson Beach; my parents and the other couple who lived there were artists. Artmaking was considered an essential aspect of life and an avenue for authentic self-expression. Creativity was encouraged, and I dabbled in all art forms, from sculpture to printmaking. I attended the Bolinas-Stinson School and spent as much time as possible in the Art Shop. But it wasn’t until I entered high school that I took my first photography class and found the medium that spoke to me. Through photography, the world presents itself as a pattern I can use to express my point of view and highlight things I feel need to be noticed.

 Q. Is there a particular work of art that is an inspiration to you?

A. I can’t say that a single piece of artwork inspired my current body of work. Still, it is highly influenced by Byzantine painting, particularly religious iconography and the application of gold to illustrate divine light. Its radiance is intended to embody the invisible while highlighting the devotion to the subject matter. I also aim to illuminate and elevate the imagery I photograph. 

Q. How does coastal Marin or the Bay Area influence you as an artist?

A. The Bay Area started as the Wild West and remains that to this day. It is a place people can come to and find their true selves. There have been many gold rushes, and the region’s busts and booms create financial instability here, but it continues to draw people from all over the world who want to be free to be themselves, innovate, and pursue their dreams.

 Q. Do you have any rituals related to your creative practice?

 A. When one is engrossed in the process of creating artwork, they can completely lose themselves in the process and find themselves immersed in “The Flow.” There are few other ways to fully engage in the present moment for an extended period than creating a work of art. When I walk around with a camera in hand, I become hyper-focused. It pulls my attention away from my busy mind, and I notice details that can be easily overlooked. When working in the studio applying gold leaf to my photographic images, I often lose track of time. A good podcast is always good company.

In The Galleries

On View Through November 12

Inez Storer: Museum Of Rare And Wonderful Things

Curated by Louisa Gloger and Elia Haworth

 Inverness-based artist Inez Storer creates collage and mixed media pieces, often incorporating text into her artistic practice. Her creations are multilayered and reflect her life. From beautiful flowers to historic letters to ships to swimming pools, Storer takes her audience on a narrative journey filled with interpretative reflections and memories.

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Stuart Chapman: Freebox Neckties

Curated by Louisa Gloger and Elia Haworth

An exhibition featuring Bolinas artist StuArt Chapman's neckties rescued from a freebox, decorated with words and symbols, giving each tie a new meaning. 

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Alice Shaw: Motherland

Curated by Louisa Gloger and Elia Haworth

In this exhibition, Alice Shaw applies 22 karat gold leaf to her photographs of Bolinas landscapes, including local flora and fauna, to emphasize her reverence for the natural world, which stems from her deep roots in coastal Marin.

Learn More >

Click Here to view the Bolinas Museum Artist Spotlight: Alice Shaw