art.wikisort.org - Artist

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 Master 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

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