Front Page “The Bunyip” 19th October 2022

https://www.bunyippress.com.au/community/sculptor-inspires-while-capturing-gawler-history

A LOCAL veteran-turned-artist is on a mission
to nurture the creativity and potential of others
as his shines like the metals he sculpts.

Kelton Grayson has transitioned out of the
Australian Defence Force (ADF) into full-
time artistry, specialising in metal sculpture.

He moved to Gawler four years ago, “falling
for the history of the place”, and bought a
historic home of early settlers.

Its out-building, used back then as a
mechanic’s workshop, has been transformed
into his art studio and will later second as a
teaching school. Grayson tells The Bunyip the
home, a Victorian Coach house, was built in
1891 for the Forgie family, whose name still
has a strong presence in Gawler to this day, as
Taylor and Forgie Funeral Directors.

Continued from above

“His works offer more than
beauty and a place of rest,
they create space, stop time
and open a gateway to self-
discovery – the intent of an art-
ist who rejects the stereotypes
of ‘eccentric’ and ‘emotionally
unstable’, and uses decades of
experience as an engineering
technician in both industry and
military to shape each piece
with the discipline, focus, preci-
sion and advanced processes of
a master.

“Grayson’s work disrupts the
modern world of replicas, fast
fashion and cheap, disposable
products, reminding us of true
craftsmanship where things
are built to last – an inspiring
challenge for every creator.”

For Grayson, that process in-
volves foundry casting in vari-
ous metals, adapting traditional
and non-traditional techniques
that merge old and new.

“My earliest memory of cast-
ing stems from reading Hans
Christian Andersen’s The Stead-
fast Tin Soldier,” he said.

“There was something pow-
erful in learning that through
the heat of fire and the power of
love, the toy was transformed
from a tin soldier into a tin
heart.

“The seed was planted
and over time I developed
and refined my skills as a
craftsman, technician and
engineer.

“However, I still believe
that just like the tin soldier,
my art pieces are convert-
ing the raw materials, which
can often be scraps and re-
jects, into manifestations
that represent the essence of
humanity.

“My works carry on the proud
tradition and history of Gawler
metalwork, and just like those
who came before me, I too cast
the pieces myself to ensure un-
compromised quality in every
piece.”

Over the next six months,
Grayson plans to show his art-
works at the Gawler Makers’
Market, Brighton Jetty Sculp-
tures event and JamFactory
Barossa.

Looking further, he plans to
use his studio to nurture budding
artists, helping them to also ex-
plore their creativity and realise
their full potential.

“The foundations of the Forgie
home have become my own
family home, the history-rich
estate allowing me space and
inspiration to build an art studio,
in which I forge and cast metal
sculptures in their entirety,” he
said.

“One day, this art studio will
have a team of artists working
together, and second as a school
teaching those who yearn for the
creativity locked inside them,
giving the next generation a
helping hand to find their artist
path.”

Editorial “The Bunyip”, 19th October 2022.

https://www.bunyippress.com.au/editorial/artworks-connecting-our-past-present-and-future

Artworks connecting our
past, present and future
AS beautiful as artworks can be to view,
in some cases it’s not only the final form
that matters, but also the process of their
creation.
Just consider the artworks of Kelton
Grayson.
The Gawler resident has transitioned
to full-time artistry, specialising in metal
sculpture, after serving in the Royal
Australian Air force as an engineering
technician.
What sets Grayson apart from others in
the industry is that he is a master craftsman,
combining traditional and non-traditional
techniques using his engineering and
military background to create unique metal
sculptures.
Having purchased a historic home that
belonged to famous early settlers in Gawl-
er, the Forgie family, Grayson is using
its out-building as an art studio, which
he envisions will have a team of artists
working together and double as a teaching
school for those yearning to unlock their
creativity.
The house, like much of Gawler, is
steeped in history.
Originally built in 1891, it needed resto-
ration, so much so that a building inspec-
tor told Grayson that the out-building was
in “too poor condition to repair”.
Well that building, which was added in
the 1920s and used as a mechanic’s work-
shop, is now his art studio.
It’s not the only way in which Grayson
is preserving Gawler’s history while the
town heritage inspires his artwork.
He produces his art pieces via foundry
casting various metals, adapting traditional
and non-traditional techniques, ultimately
converting raw materials into works that
represent the essence of humanity.
In so doing, Grayson helps to carry
on the tradition and history of Gawler
metalwork.
What is old inspires the new, and what
is new honours the old, with the process
unfolding in a historic building that would
otherwise have been lost to time.
The message one could take away from
this is that the circle of life connects our
community members in some way even
though we may not realise it.

While it’s important to be forward-
thinking – indeed Grayson has big plans

for his art studio – there is also value in
looking at the stories of those who came
before us as we explore our own path in
the present on the way to the future.