Young Man

 -Measures 18' x 23" -Hydrocal plaster, encaustic, casein paint, burlap -2020  George Mason has a background in ceramic architectural tile, and his work is steeped in the exploration of materials and history. Richly-textured and saturated with color, the largest of his “relief tapestries” are pieced together panels that occupy entire walls. Mason began to combine encaustics with layered paper cut outs while teaching in Jerusalem, Indonesia, and India. Eventually, these works led to a multifaceted question that challenged the artist to synthesize several divergent interests. He asked, “Is it possible to create large dimensional works, outside the frame, highly textural, referencing textile, ceramic, and cut out traditions, that hang with authority yet surrender to gravity with grace?" He is currently finding out while living on the coast of Maine with his family. A recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts awards and a founder of Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Mason has tau