Orlando gets love, part 4: Mark Gmehling tells Street Art magazine he had “a beautiful time” in Orlando

If you’ve been to Snap! Space, or even just driven west on Colonial toward downtown, you’ve seen Mark Gmehling’s giant “drinsch” mural on the side of the old Cruises Only building. In an interview this week with Street Art United States magazine, Gmehling discusses his many commissions and exhibitions around the world, including the squishy, distressed, five-story-tall character looming over Mills 50.

SAUS: Have you painted in the USA? If so, how was your experience like?

MG: I painted a mural at Snap! Space building in Orlando/ Florida and had an exhibition there.

On the trip I lost my mobile at the airport and my glasses broke during Miami check-in. I just had my sunglasses with the needed lens strength with me, which made me look like a celebrity or idiot when the sun was down. But it was an experience I would never want to miss. I had a beautiful time, with the Snap! Orlando guys and the Art Attacks Team, who organized and funded my stay and the exhibition. I was impressed by the social cohesion of the art scene and people running business not only in Mills 50 district. There is a very positive energy going round.

In our story last year on the mural, we interviewed Gmehling: “I’m back in America for the first time since I was 6 and left San Francisco for Germany,” he says, proudly sporting a Magic cap. “I loved it here. … See – I got a sunburn while working!” he grins, showing off his Florida sun-reddened arm.

Gmehling’s Orlando mural is his first in America, but surely not his last. Check out this drone-shot video by Eyesview Media of Gmehling at work: 

This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2015.