Anton Parsons

Invisible City , Lambton Quay, Wellington

Anton Parsons (born 1968, in Palmerston North) ^[1] is a New Zealand sculptor. His work often contain letters and numbers, sometimes in Braille or Braille-like codes, these are typically arranged along linear of curvilinear surfaces. Some of his early work consisted of meticulously crafted oversize pencils and other writing equipment. ^[2] Later he produced a series of works involving oversized Braille often in collaboration with the blind poet Dr. Peter Beatson of Palmerston North. ^[3] The Braille works were followed by a series of works designed to fit in gallery doorways, they consisted of vertical plastic strips similar to a cheap fly screen. ^{[4] [5]}

Education

Parsons gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture at the Canterbury School of Fine Art in 1990. ^[6]

Awards and grants

While at university Parsons was awarded the Rosemary Muller sculpture award and obtained a number of grants in the following years which allowed him to develop his practice. ^[7]

• 1990 – Rosemary Muller sculpture award, University of Canterbury
• 1991 – Q.E.2 Arts Council, Creative projects grant
• 1993 – Q.E.2 Arts Council, Professional development grant
• 1996 – Creative New Zealand, New work development grant

Public commissions

Parsons has been commissioned to produce a number of site specific sculptures in New Zealand ^[6]

• 1992 – Alphabeti, Department of Justice, High Court, Wellington
• 2002 – Gone Fishing, PriceWaterhouse Coopers Building, Auckland ^[8]
• 2002 – Polyglot, North Shore District Court, Albany
• 2003 – Invisible City, Lambton Quay, Wellington. ^[3]
• 2004 – Analogue, KPMG Building, Tauranga
• 2007 – Numbers, Coleman Mall, Palmerston North
• 2011 – Passing Time, Wilson Reserve, Christchurch

Collections

• Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North ^[9]
• Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth ^[10]
• Robert McDougal Art Gallery, Christchurch ^[11]
• Sargent Art Gallery, Wanganui, New Zealand ^[12]
• Chartwell Collection, Auckland, New Zealand ^[13]
• Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa ^[14]

References

1. Parsons, Anton (2006). Anton Parsons. Bywater, Jonathan, 1970–. [Auckland, N.Z.: A. Parsons. ISBN   0-473-11300-7. OCLC   156719435.
2. Brown, Warwick, 1940– (1996). Another 100 New Zealand artists. Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN   0-908877-98-6. OCLC   36884242.
3. "Wellington Sculpture Trust | The Sculptures". www.sculpture.org.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
4. Pitts, Priscilla (1998). Contemporary New Zealand sculpture : themes and issues. Hanly, Gil. Auckland, N.Z.: David Bateman. ISBN   1-86953-169-8. OCLC   43115254.
5. "Jonathan Smart Gallery - Jamb". jonathansmartgallery.com. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
6. "Anton Parsons Bio". Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
7. "Jonathan Smart Gallery – Anton Parsons". jonathansmartgallery.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
8. "Gone Fishing" (PDF). Massey University. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
9. "A Renaissance". Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and Heritage. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
10. "Jamb | Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre". govettbrewster.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
11. "Collection | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
12. "Anton Parsons CV — {Suite} Art Gallery, Auckland & Wellington, New Zealand". {Suite}. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
13. Parsons, Anton. "Collection". The Chartwell Project. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
14. Parsons, Anton. "Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020.