(Reprinted with permission from Morrison County Record)
Tuesday July 01, 2003
Cushing artist’s work decorates South Dakota horizon
By Liz Verley, Co-editor
Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. But how can a cold flat slab
of steel become an object someone could consider a work of art?
Recently a Cushing artist, Kelly Hamson, was commissioned to create five steel
Native American sculptures which now decorate the South Dakota skyline near
Pierre.
After completing the project—one chief in full headdress and four braves—at
his workshop in Cushing, Hamson transported it to its home on property owned
by Melanie Urich, 10 miles east of Pierre.
(Pictured: Kelly Hamson, Cushing, is dwarfed by his Native American
steel sculptures which were recently erected along South Dakota Highway 34
near Pierre. Submitted photo)
Urich, who commissioned the art work, did so to address the racism in the
region.
The five pieces now stand as silhouettes on the skyline and one can imagine
what visitors to the region may have seen years ago.
According to a report in the Capital Journal, (Pierre newspaper) Urich said,
“I was trying to bring back a little of the wild, wild, West to South
Dakota.”
Noting this was the largest commissioned project he has done, Hamson said,
“It has been a challenge. I went to vocational school one year for welding
and one year for carpentry. I have done several smaller pieces but, nothing
of this magnitude.”
He added, “Getting this commission has been exciting. I used art clips
and photography to create the design and the results have turned out quite
well I think.”
He added, “For some projects I see things along the road or in magazines
and capture the images.”
Each of the figures weighs between 300 and 500 pounds and is reinforced with
rebar and angle iron.
Hamson has been a welder for more than 20 years and, after starting his own
business in Cushing, has been able to create several pieces of art. From decorative
fire rings to wall decorations, he has created several which adorn many area
homes. His work primarily focuses on wildlife but he is open to trying whatever
the customer requests.
He said, “I just started seeing this type of art along the way and thought
that’s nice and that I could do that.”
Whether he designs the piece or people tell him what they want, his goal is
to personalize it.
“I want the person to feel it fits where they want it and it is a part
of them,” he said.
His favorite project is a 3-D duck scene which is mounted on a house. He also
has created a 3-D farm scene with wild horses running in the background.
(Pictured is Hamson with some of his 3-D artwork. Staff photo by Liz
Verley)
Kelly and his wife, Kim, have two children—Faith, six months, and Noah,
20 months. In his spare time he enjoys fishing the tournament circuit, where
he presently fishes as a co-angler. In tournament fishing a co-angler fishes
with a professional.
In past tournaments he has fished as a professional and his goal is to get
back to pro-fishing in the future as time allows.
Located in Cushing, his business is named Up North Custom Metal Artwork and
Welding.
This year his art work was on display at the Minnesota Horse Expo at the state
fairgrounds. And, on Sept. 6 and 7, visitors to the Little Falls Chamber of
Commerce’s Arts and Crafts Fair will have the opportunity to see it
for the first time.
