Mason Brown

Mason Brown born 1970 in Chicago Heights, Illinois, is a graphic artist and filmmaker now living in Long Beach, California. A veteran of Desert Storm, much of Brown's work is aimed at promoting social awareness through politically charged images. Brown served in the US Army 2nd Armored “Hell on Wheels” Division and Airborne Patriot Unit. Highly decorated in his time served, Brown earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 bronze stars), the US Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon (with 2 oak leaf clusters) and the Liberation of Kuwait Medal having bridged the gap into Kuwait in 1991 with his Division. Brown’s service in Desert Storm shaped many of his views both socially and politically. Having lived and exhibited abroad in Germany and Austria, Brown cites his exposure to European culture and artists as contributing to his world-view and vast interest in history, alternative religions and secret societies- common threads in his fine art and commercial work.
Post military service, Mason integrated back into civilian life and obtained a degree in graphic arts and photography while adopting Southern California as his new home.
A veteran of the surf, skate, and snowboard industries Mason's commercial clients include Arnette, Electric, Blue Torch Television, Falken Skateboards, Sole Technologies and Blitz Distribution- working alongside Tony Hawk, Per Welinder and Jade Howe of Howe Clothing. Mason cites Greg and Kip Arnette as being most valuable mentors in later starting his fledgling business. During his time with Arnette, Mason went out on Van's WARP tours in the early days of the popular tour's history. As a photographer he documented the scene of bands and vendors alike, compiling a sizable archive of images spanning 1995-1997.
In 1997, Mason Brown was asked to participate in Arkitip Magazine with friends Dean Yoshihara and Scott A. Sant' Angelo. Hand-made in limited production, Arkitip Magazine brought together the talent of many underground artists who have since risen to prominence including Shepard Fairey, Mark Gonzales, Ed Templeton to name a few. Brown contributed to the first two volumes of this highly esteemed art magazine that continues to be published by Scott A. Sant' Angelo today.
In 1998 Brown completed Cardboard Robot, an 8mm short film about the excessive age of technology. The film went on tour after completion, together with live electric jazz accompaniment playing a unique score at each screening. The film proved to be a launching board for many multimedia projects Brown wished to pursue. Some years later, a popular Signature Series ID for Fuel TV was inspired by the film. Signature Series ID # 17- a collaborative effort between Stardust Studios’ Neil Tsai and Fuel TV- features original artwork by Mason Brown with clips adapted from the film Cardboard Robot. This along with other Signature Series IDs developed by Tsai helped earn FUEL TV the 2007 BDA Gold Award in the Art Direction & Design Image Campaign category and remains in constant rotation on Fuel TV’s programming schedule.
Brown began producing a clothing line under the brand Cardboard Robot later in 1998 and was soon selling to many boutique retail stores coast to coast. Quickly realizing partnering was necessary to grow his small business to capture the market he desired, Brown sought the advice of Bob Hurley- a friend from his days in the action sportswear industry and founder of Hurley sportswear. By Brown’s account, Hurley had asked how big he’d like his company to be. Mason replied “So big you will be sorry you helped me”. Soon after Hurley made an introduction to Rob Dubar, part owner of The Merchandise Company; a merchandising juggernaut producing apparel and providing tour support for countless independent bands and major record labels. The introduction proved to be the right fit and by 2002 Dubar partnered with Brown and Cardboard Robot expanded to include an apparel collection, an accessories division and a line of re-purposed cardboard furniture.
Mason Brown continues to develop his interests in other projects while remaining at the helm as Creative Director at CBR. In 2008, Brown developed a conceptual art project titled Clocky soon to go into production. Clocky is a hand screen-printed, die-cut cardboard toy that intends to predict the future. Accompanied by a limited edition collector’s book with signed and numbered packaging, Clocky will hit the shelves of art bookstores and collectible toy dealers later this fall.
Also on the horizon is the development of a motorized bicycle designed by Brown under the company name Veteran Black. Brown partnered with artist Jason Cruz and Eric Hsueh, founder of Livery Design Gruppe to present the Veteran Black production model motorized bicycle, operating on a 49cc 2 stroke engine. Brown had designed and produced 6 prototype models in 2003 but collaborating with Cruz and Hseuh was the catalyst needed to take the project to the next level. Currently in development off shore, Veteran Black will debut its first production of bikes in late 2010.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu