New York Sculptor Mark Parsons Visits Central High School

March 24, 2008

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2008 - VSA arts is bringing acclaimed New York sculptor Mark Parsons to an AP biology class at the Central High School Academy of Fine Arts in Tulsa, Okla., from March 31 to April 2. Parsons will spend three days with the students, exploring the relationship between art and biology. Students will discuss the similarities between the scientific and the creative processes, examine artwork based on DNA and genetics, and finally learn about the process of casting a sculpture, Parsons’ expertise.

Parsons is an established sculptor who works out of his Brooklyn Studio and is currently director of production for the Pratt Institute School of Architecture. His work has been exhibited at The United Nations, The Kennedy Center, The Provincetown Art Museum, the New Bedford Art Museum, and in numerous private galleries. Parsons’ Foundations series was featured in VSA arts/Weekly Reader’s “Portrait of an Artist-Scientist,” a nationally distributed cross-disciplinary educational resource. Cross-disciplinary education is a growing trend in classrooms across the country, as teachers seek ways to foster creativity and critical thinking skills. In the Foundations series, Parsons altered the scale of medieval cathedral architectural drawings and compared them to enlarged images of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nucleotides to reveal fascinating similarities.

Parsons, who has multiple sclerosis, will discuss how he blends his experiences with both disability and science into his works of art. In addition, he will speak to the students about his experiences living with a disability.

“VSA arts believes it is important to bring artists with disabilities into schools to work directly with the students,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “Students see what these artists can do, and they become role models of ability to all students.”

“Central High School Academy of Fine Arts is committed to integrating the arts into a comprehensive educational program,” said Suzette Huggins, principal of Central High School. “We’re excited to be able to work with VSA arts to bring this hands-on learning experience to our students and enable them to see how the seemingly different worlds of art and science intersect.”

Glen Henry, executive director of VSA arts of Oklahoma, helped facilitate the school’s selection to receive Parson’s visit. Central High School Academy of Fine Arts offers both fine arts and comprehensive academic programming. The school recently received a federal grant enabling them to build a glassworks studio, metalwork lab and ceramics studio, as well as a black-box theater, recording studio and ballet dance floor.

About VSA arts
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 55 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit www.vsarts.org

Media Contact:

Stephanie Taylor/VSA arts
(202) 628-2800 ext. 3883
SKTaylor@vsarts.org