Murrieta sculptor and artist Austin Casson poses for a photo with his sculpture, “Forever Free,” which he is donating to help fund the Ukrainian relief effort. Valley News/Courtesy photo
TEMECULA – Murrieta sculptor and artist Austin Casson is donating his sculpture, “Forever Free,” to help fund the Ukrainian relief effort.The sculpture combines hand-forged stainless steel and silk sunflowers, which is the Ukrainian national flower, and stands 33 inches tall.“This work is forged with fire and hammers. So are the Ukrainians,” Casson said. “Their courage is real and rare.”The work was inspired in part by a viral story of the old woman who gave sunflower seeds to Russian invading forces and told them, “Take these seeds, so sunflowers grow here when you die.”The sculpture has been selected by Uniting US, a national veterans art group to be shown in the Library of Congress art show. The theme of this show is “From conflict to creativity.”
