A magical scene of whimsical birds, fish, and human characters unfolds in Lunar Promenade, a three-panel mural by Alden Mason, a prolific painter known for his colorful, high-spirited canvases.

In some respects my paintings are a visual diary, a remembrance of bird watching, zoology classes and many travels to the tropics. – Alden Mason

Lunar Promenade was created during a period when Mason’s work reflected his interest in rich decorative surfaces and an immediate working method, in this case a combination of his squeeze-bottle technique (in which acrylic pigment was squeezed directly out of bottles onto the canvas) and the autonomic drawing style, which was developed by the surrealists as a means to express the subconscious.

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Mason (1919–2013) was born in Everett, WA, and joined the University of Washington art faculty after receiving his MFA in 1947. He retired from teaching in 1981 to paint full time and went on to exhibit widely throughout the United States. His work can be found in every major Northwest art collection.

Lunar Promenade is currently located in the 4th Avenue lobby of the King County Administration Building. It was commissioned as part of the Honors Program, which recognizes visual artists who have made significant contributions to our region through the sustained production of high-quality artwork.