Welcome to the Alden Mason Foundation
Established in 2017, the Alden Mason Foundation was formed to sustain and celebrate Alden Mason’s extraordinary legacy as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent artists and to acknowledge his influence on several generations of students as a professor of art at the University of Washington.
Since its inception, the foundation has published a comprehensive monograph about the work and life of Alden Mason, contributed and assisted in the organization of a major survey of Alden’s work at the Bellevue Arts Museum. The Foundation has also provided an endowed yearly scholarship in Alden Mason’s name to a candidate in the MFA program in painting in the School of Art at the University of Washington.
Throughout his career, Mason was a generous mentor and supporter of younger artists whose work he felt deserved recognition. With this in mind, and Alden’s wish to help foster a vibrant art community, the Alden Mason Foundation established the Alden Mason Foundation Award – three prestigious awards created to pay homage to the enduring artistic legacy of beloved Washington artist, Alden Mason.
Alden Mason Foundation Announces 2024 Award Recipients
[SEATTLE, WA] — March 29, 2024 – The Alden Mason Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Alden Mason Grand Prize Award and two Special Recognition Awards recognizing Washington state artists in the discipline of painting. The Grand Prize Award grants $12,000 to an outstanding painter, and two additional artists of merit receive Special Recognition Awards of $1,000 each.
The Selection Panel included esteemed curators José Carlos Diaz and Shamim M. Momin; and painter Anthony White. After careful deliberation the panelists selected the following artists for awards:
Grand Prize Award: Ko Kirk Yamahira, Seattle
Special Recognition Award: JoEllen Wang, Seattle
Special Recognition Award: Juventino Aranda, Walla Walla
The Alden Mason Foundation Award Selection Panel thoroughly evaluated 242 eligible applications, assessing each artist’s ability to meet or exceed the Selection Criteria based solely on their submitted work samples and statements. The blind review process, which excluded the artists’ names and resumes, ensured an unbiased focus on artistic merit.
The Alden Mason Foundation Board extends its appreciation to the panelists for their dedication and expertise in the selection process. The Foundation will host a celebration of the Inaugural Alden Mason Award and its first award winners on Saturday, May 4, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Foster/White Gallery. There will be a brief conversation with the artists beginning at 3:00 PM.
The Foundation congratulates the winners and expresses gratitude to all the applicants for their participation!
Alden Mason Foundation Board: Jaq Chartier, Mike Hascall, Norman Lundin, Stephen McClelland, Cathy McClure, Gene Gentry McMahon, Renato Oliva, Helen O-Toole, Merchant Pease, Florian Raymann, Kuldeep Singh
ALDEN MASON: PAINTINGS This lavishly illustrated publication was designed by Phil Kovacevich and published by University of Washington Press. Roger Hull, the primary essayist, wrote the major essay on Mason’s life, career, teaching and work. Regina Hackett’s essay focuses on the Burpee Garden era and related work. Robert Ayers chose to examine the role of figuration in the work. The book’s forword is a warm tribute and appreciation by Phen Huang. ALDEN MASON: PAINTINGS is available at Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, Foster/White Gallery, Woodside Braseth Gallery, on Amazon, and fine bookstores.
See News and Events for other Alden Mason exhibitions and events.
