Alden Mason (1919 - February 6, 2013) was a widely traveled American painter, particularly noted for his controversial murals. He was born in the summer of 1919 in Everett, Washington. Mason was raised by a protective mother and is self described as "a small, skinny kid who couldn’t see" (it was not until Mason’s second year of college that he discovered he was in need of glasses). As a young boy, growing up as an outsider, he spent most of his time by himself outdoors bird watching, hiking, and exploring. He recalled the moment he knew he would be an artist, a little sparrow alighted his fingertip, staying for a few seconds to look into his eyes.

At age twelve the aspiring artist found himself trapping muskrats to earn money for ma...