Mason has begun exploring a new artistic medium—tape. Right now he is focused almost entirely on Scotch Magic Tape though he did experiment briefly with duct tape (still affectionately known as duck tape). His first piece was begun with wrapping paper on the back of which his great aunt Kathy had drawn several pictures. He used her work as the basis of his own creation—“Treasure in Tape” (pictured below center). Clearly, the young artist is offering a scathing commentary on the modern tendency to reify art rather than appreciate its evanescence.
Since that first piece, Mason has been spending much of his time on a mixed-media piece which as yet remains untitled—some consideration of “The Red Balloon” has been rumored as has “Stuck in Responsibility.” You will notice that it combines paper clips and post-its (signifying the drudgery of the daily grind), a booklet of directions at the bottom (signifying the expectations we feel are weighing us down), and a business card and police badge (symbolizing the authority that keeps us in our place). Meanwhile the red balloon—symbol of our artistic and playful sides—attempts to lift the mess to a loftier perspective.