Artistic talent runs in the Parson family. Father Charles Parson is a sculptor and drawer (among many other mediums) whose work has been featured in more than 65 solo exhibitions in the United States alone; son Collin Parson plays with light and geometry in colorful, modern works of art (he’s also the exhibition manager and curator for the Arvada Center).

To the naked eye, the pair’s aesthetics seem incongruent. But similarities do abound: Each of the artists uses everyday materials; they’re both inspired by the landscape and images of the West; and, in their current exhibition, shapes carry over from one’s work to the other’s. In Continuance, visitors get the rare opportunity to see, side-by-side, how two generations perceive the same world.

Charles uses his hands, his past life as a factory worker coming through in imposing steel structures, while his life in Colorado is lovingly depicted in black-and-white drawings. Collin, on the other hand, uses a computer, CNC machines, and LED lights to make bright installations reminiscent of the sun and the cosmos.

It’s a dialogue between father and son, between artists, and between decades—one we’re lucky to be privy to.

On view: See the Parsons’ work in Continuance at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center through February 15.

Is a trip to Colorado Springs not in your schedule? Watch the video below for a glimpse into the Parsons’ work.

View all our Meet the Artist profiles at 5280.com/meettheartist.

@daliahsinger.

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.