Alden Mason was an alumnus of the School of Art (BFA 1942, MFA 1947). He also taught here for over thirty years, beginning as an acting instructor in the 1948-1949 academic year and ending as a Professor Emeritus after his retirement in 1981. Among the many students who he influenced are two of our more famous alumni: Chuck Close (BFA 1962) and Roger Shimomura (BFA 1961). Rather than repeat what so many people have already written, before and after his passing on 06 February 2013, we are providing links below.
Foster/White Gallery represented Alden Mason for the last decade of his life. They had an exhibition titled Alden Mason: In Memoriam (1919 – 2013) from 15 March 2013 through 30 April 2013. They also had a memorial for Mason from 2-4pm on Saturday, 16 March 2013.
An exhibition of Mason’s work titled Alden Mason: In memoriam 1919-2013 is at the Wright Exhibition Space in Seattle. It opened on 25 April 2013 and will close on 30 June 2013. The show was co-curated by Phen Huang of Foster/White Gallery and Greg Kucera. There are reviews by Sheila Farr and Michael Upchurch. This space is at 407 Dexter Ave N (206-264-8200); it is open 10am-2pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Obituary: Alden Mason, 93, lived, painted with a flourish
Seattle Times; written by Lynda Mapes
Mason, Alden (1919-2013)
HistoryLink; written by Sheila Farr
A remembrance of Alden Mason, a brillant and bumptious life
written by Greg Kucera
Alden Mason: Selected Masterpieces
2012 exhibition catalog from Foster/White Gallery (PDF)
R.I.P. Artist Alden Mason
Links to Seattle Channel video from 2004
Alden Mason (artist)
Wikipedia article with extensive references and external links