Anton Parsons Explained

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. 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.^{[3] [4]}

Education

Parsons gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture at the Canterbury School of Fine Art in 1990.^[5]

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.^[6]

• 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

• 1992 – Alphabeti, Department of Justice, High Court, Wellington
• 2002 – Gone Fishing, PriceWaterhouse Coopers Building, Auckland ^[7]
• 2002 – Polyglot, North Shore District Court, Albany
• 2003 – Invisible City, Lambton Quay, Wellington.^[8]
• 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]

Notes and References

1. Book: Parsons, Anton . Anton Parsons . 2006. A. Parsons. Bywater, Jonathan, 1970–. 0-473-11300-7. [Auckland, N.Z.|pages=|oclc=156719435].
2. Book: Brown, Warwick, 1940–. Another 100 New Zealand artists. 1996. Godwit. 0-908877-98-6. Auckland, N.Z.. 36884242.
3. Book: Pitts, Priscilla . Contemporary New Zealand sculpture : themes and issues. 1998. David Bateman. Hanly, Gil.. 1-86953-169-8. Auckland, N.Z.. 43115254.
4. Web site: Jonathan Smart Gallery - Jamb. 6 December 2020. jonathansmartgallery.com.
5. Web site: Anton Parsons Bio. 30 November 2020. Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. en-NZ.
6. Web site: Jonathan Smart Gallery – Anton Parsons. 30 November 2020. jonathansmartgallery.com.
7. Web site: Gone Fishing. 30 November 2020 . Massey University.
8. Web site: Wellington Sculpture Trust The Sculptures. 30 November 2020. www.sculpture.org.nz.
9. Web site: 29 October 2018. A Renaissance. 30 November 2020. Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and Heritage. en.
10. Web site: Jamb Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Len Lye Centre. 30 November 2020. govettbrewster.com.
11. Web site: Collection Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. 30 November 2020. christchurchartgallery.org.nz.
12. Web site: Anton Parsons CV — Art Gallery, Auckland & Wellington, New Zealand. 6 December 2020. . en-US.
13. Web site: Parsons. Anton. Collection. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200629101426/https://chartwell.org.nz/seeing/collection/ . 29 June 2020 . 6 December 2020. The Chartwell Project. en-US.
14. Web site: Parsons. Anton. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150128040523/http://www.collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1226827 . 28 January 2015 . 6 December 2020. collections.tepapa.govt.nz.