A Legacy in Steel and Stone: WNMU Professor Emeritus Installs Large-Scale Sculpture Near Old James Stadium

A new large-scale sculpture will greet visitors arriving to the campus of Western New Mexico University. The new sculpture, Collaboration, is the culmination of four years of design and fabrication by Professor Emeritus Michael Metcalf, who taught in the Department of Expressive Arts for three decades.

Constructed of steel and stone, the sculpture consists of three arced spires, between which is suspended a five-thousand-pound boulder of local Burro Mountain granite, courtesy of the United States Forest Service.

Metcalf, who retired from WNMU this year, received a sabbatical leave in 2021 to begin work on the sculpture. The sabbatical was his only compensation for the work. He also worked closely with WNMU President Joseph Shepard and the university's Art Acquisition Committee to ensure that he had the necessary approval before launching the project.

Metcalf said that the sleek look of the stainless steel is consistent with his other sculptures. "I like a minimalist look," he said, naming the work of artist Donald Judd as an inspiration, "where it looks like it is made by a machine, or you can't really tell the mark of the human, but the reality is the whole surface has been sanded with this texture … to create this subtlety that goes on through the whole piece."

The size of the piece is equally intentional. "This work is really about scale," explained Metcalf. "If it were a quarter of the size, it really wouldn't have the impact that it does." The longest spire in the sculpture is 36 feet long.

The 5,000-pound boulder was specifically chosen to contrast with the steel. "What I like is the contrast of this manmade material, stainless steel, and natural, wonderful stone. This is Burro Mountain granite, and there are different colors of inclusion," said Metcalf. "You have to have contrast, in my opinion, for works to be successful."

Metcalf consulted with an engineer to ensure that the structure he built could support the heft of the stone.

The concept of support is key to the sculpture, not just literally but figuratively, too. The sculpture was inspired, in part, by the university's Applied Liberal Arts and Sciences program, in which Metcalf taught for many years. "That right there is the student," he said, pointing to the stone. The rest of the sculpture, said Metcalf, could be seen as representing all the supports that "help the student along the way."

Expressive Arts Department Chair and Associate Professor of Ceramics Courtney Michaud said the dramatic sculpture was a fitting reflection of Metcalf's career and the university's dynamism. "Michael Metcalf's new sculpture is a testament to this region's artistic legacy and unique wilderness," said Michaud. "Our university administration's commitment to supporting public art, art education, and community collaboration is exemplified in this project. As a longtime professor of sculpture and Expressive Arts department chair at WNMU, Michael has shaped both our campus and our community, and he will now install one of his pieces that speaks so clearly to what makes this region and university dynamic."

Metcalf said he was pleased to have his sculpture placed in an area of such prominence on the campus where he worked for so many years. The sculpture, he said, "is a continuation of my whole career's work."

WNMU will hold a dedication of the sculpture on December 12, following the Board of Regents meeting.