Temecula sculptor donates work to benefit Ukrainian relief
Over the past 32 years, Temecula’s Austin Casson built a reputation for outstanding work as a sculptor across diverse mediums including bronze, steel, stone and ceramics. His work has been recognized and collected nationally, with an early bronze eagle, “Cry Freedom,” going on permanent display at the George H. Bush Presidential Library in Houston. He also has pieces on permanent display at the World Golf Hall of Fame and the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. The Fallen Heroes Memorial in Temecula is also among his works.
While Casson’s artistic achievements are impressive, he has also developed a reputation as a philanthropist. His works have raised over $40K for golden eagle research, mountain lion research and the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation, a children’s nature education program in Temecula.
Now Casson is donating his sculpture “Forever Free” to help the Ukrainian relief effort. The sculpture stands 33 inches tall and combines both hand-forged stainless steel as well as silk sunflowers, the Ukrainian national flower.
“This work is forged with fire and hammers,” said Casson. “So are the Ukrainians. Their courage is real and rare.”
The work was inspired in part by the viral story of the old Ukrainian woman who gave sunflower seeds to invading Russian soldiers while telling them, “Take these seeds so sunflowers grow here when you die.”
“Forever Free” has been selected by Uniting US, a national veterans art group, to be shown in an exhibition titled “From Conflict to Creativity” that runs at the Library of Congress
from June 28 through 30. It will also be on exhibit at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
“Austin’s ‘Forever Free’ sculpture embodies the concepts and goals the show stands for,” said United US Show Director AnnMarie Halterman. “Art can have powerful messages and Austin’s sculpture speaks to what is and what can be.”
The sculpture will be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the Ukrainian relief cause.
“My goal is to raise as much as possible,” said Casson. “It has been gratifying to see all the people who have seen the work, understood the goal and just jumped in to help. I really want to thank Uniting US Show Director AnnMarie Halterman, who has truly helped me showcase ‘Forever Free.’”
Casson was raised on a farm by a father who was an accomplished craftsman and a mother who was a gifted artist.
“I got my dad’s hands and my mother’s eye,” he said.
Casson lived in remote parts of the Rocky Mountains for most of his adult life, working in marketing for the ski and tourism industry in Utah and Idaho.
“My children were raised on horses and skis in a rural setting that we all dearly loved,” he said.
It would not be until 1989 that Casson began sculpting full time. His initial line of golf gifts, Fairway Replicas, was distributed worldwide and several of his larger works were chosen for permanent display at the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Living in the hills near Temecula, Casson sculpts outdoors as often as possible. For information on the artist: https://austincasson. com. For information on the auction: amhalterman@yahoo.com