Sara-Jayne Parsons: More than just an art history buff

Although Sara-Jayne Parsons grew up on a small island with only one museum, she has made a career out of teaching others about art history.

"I have been interested in art since I was very young," Parsons says. "I am from the Isle of Man, a small island near England. When I visited family in England, I would always look forward to going to the historic sites there."

In her job as assistant to UNT Art Gallery Director Diana Block, Parsons works on writing grants, organizing exhibitions and arranging shipment of artworks.

"At the end of the day, my reward is knowing we worked hard to get a good exhibition," Parsons says. "That's what makes it worthwhile, when I actually meet with students and members of the public and get discussions going. The gallery is a classroom of sorts."

Parsons says her favorite exhibition in recent years was Whitfield Lovell, Whispers from the Walls, an original installation created at the UNT Art Gallery during the Spring 1999 semester.

"Lovell created a small, wooden house, furnished it with period furniture and objects, and drew portraits on the interior walls," Parsons says. "The result was an intimate environment evoking the historical period of the 1920s and 1930s, drawing on the rich and lively African American culture of the time."

For the exhibition, the gallery was transformed to include low lighting and sounds and smells of the antique objects.

"Gallery visitors were afforded an authentic, emotional experience when stepping into the space," Parsons says. "It was truly memorable, and as part of the staff working on the project, I was thrilled to work with such a thoughtful, generous artist and to witness the unfolding of a unique opportunity for UNT students and the North Texas community."

Her work in the gallery isn't the only responsibility Parsons has filled at UNT. She has also served as a UNT adjunct professor, teaching art history classes, including the history of photography and graphic design.

In the future, she hopes to return to the United Kingdom and work in a full-time, tenure-track faculty position. But, in the meantime, she is enjoying the challenge of a new hobby: gardening in the Texas climate.

"I'm trying to cultivate a green thumb," Parsons says. "My husband and I inherited a wonderful garden with the house we bought. My problem is I try to grow plants I'm fond of — big roses and huge lavender bushes, usually English plants. But I've learned that I can only grow certain things in Texas."

BY JENNY McCORMACK kreese@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Former UNT regent named to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• TAMS student, team place fourth in national competition
• UNT student, basketball star is semifinalist for Rhodes Scholarship
• Leadership Texas preps three UNT faculty for prime roles
• System Center director addresses Faculty Senate
• Special awards recognize longtime faculty members
• UNT holiday drives quadruple last year's donations
• UNT offices on the move
• Hurley reappointed to citizens council board
• Severe winter weather may bring closures
• Battling the post-holiday bulge

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