Artist Bio -
John Parsons
1412 Boxelder Ct.
Derby, KS 67037
(316) 651-6720
Born in 1955 in Wichita, Kansas John Parsons grew up hunting and fishing the woods, streams and farmlands of south central Kansas. In 1979 while bowhunting for whitetails, John was injured in a fall from his tree stand. The fall resulted in three crushed vertebra in his lower back leaving John partially paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. After a 99 day stay in the hospital which included daily physical therapy John walked from the hospital with the aid of crutches.
His career as a Wichita firefighter was ended by his injury and resulting disability but John was able to turn his hobby of taxidermy into a successful business. Over the years John has been fortunate enough to hunt Africa, Canada and Alaska as well as a number of the lower forty- eight states.
His thirty-five years experience as a taxidermist plus his experiences in the field have translated well to the art of sculpture. Anatomy and the subtleties of animal movement and behavior are the foundation for any good wildlife sculpture. These are things that can only be obtained by first hand observation.
John's love for wildlife and the out-of-doors has dictated the course of his life since he was a young child. His goal is to share that love of wild things with others through his art.
John is a lifetime member of Safari Club International, National Rifle Association, Foundation for North American Sheep and National Taxidermy Association. He is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He is also Past President and Founder of the Chisholm Trail Chapter of Safari Club International.
John was selected by the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep as their "Artist of the Year" in 2003 and 2005.
Johnʼs monumental sculptures have been installed at the California 9/11 Memorial, Clovis, CA; Cabelaʼs, La Vista, NE; Cabelaʼs, Hazelwood, MO; Cabelaʼs, Green Bay, WI; Cabelaʼs, Union Gap, WA; Cabelaʼs, Thornton CO; Gander Mountain, Wichita, KS; WaterWalk, Wichita, KS; Verus Bank, Derby, KS; Fire Station 81, Derby, KS; Hopkins County Veterans Memorial, Sulphur Springs, TX; Rose Hill Veterans Memorial, Rose Hill, KS; School Street Pond, Rose Hill, KS; Derby Hills Elementary Outdoor Classroom, Derby, KS; Panther Stadium, Derby, KS; Glenwood High School, Glenwood, IA and Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, KS as well as many private locations across the US.