ARTIST'S STATEMENT
In my work I focus on energy and evolution of form. Due to my innovative use of structure, the forms which I create imply movement and life. Most of the works are built from the spine out, yielding images which imply graceful force, while still maintaining calculated stability.
Structure and efficiency of design are the major determining factors in the evolution of natural forms in my work. My work has a strong sense of internal strength because I build out from a central spine and add and subtract material without compromising the essential structure of the piece or the clarity of the surface. While my work reflects nature, it does not copy it. My sculpture derives its shape from idealized natural as well as man-made forms. Though my pieces do not look like specific natural phenomena, one often senses that they are alive. All of my pieces explore the relationship between curves - how many simple curves create complex forms which evoke tension, movement, and beauty. My goal is to create a positive interaction between the viewer and the sculpture, and generate a contemplative and positive visual experience.
I build my works with, integrity, being true to materials and deliberate in my execution. I have mastered many different construction skills, therefore I use the appropriate materials and techniques required to express my ideas and to create strong, coherent, and honest sculptures. As each sculpture is a progression of many small procedures from conception to completion, each step must be addressed and considered; all are integral to a successful sculpture. Each of my sculptures is an answer to a question; each sculpture leads to a new question. Consequently, my work is constantly developing into new forms and new directions, much as nature evolves and changes over time.
-Michael Metcalf
Michael Metcalf 's attraction to smooth, fair curves began with the several boats he built before attending Skidmore College. There he focused his technical skills and aesthetics toward creating sculpture, and received a B.S. in Fine Arts. He studied sculpture and architectural structures at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture. He has been an artist in residence at the Gutman Center in New Hope, PA and the Delfina Studio Trust in London, England. In the summer of 2010 he expanded his cultural awareness while teaching sculpture in Xi’an China. Metcalf's work appears in collections throughout the United States and in Europe. He creates his unique sculptures, using bronze, wood, stone, and stainless steel. While the configurations and materials may be diverse, they all sustain his sense of form, which implies graceful force, but still maintains calculated stability.
Since 1995 Metcalf has been teaching sculpture at Western New Mexico University and creating sculpture in Silver City, New Mexico. While much of his laminated wood and bronze work relates to smooth fair curves, he also pursues technical innovations, and unique processes for creating his graceful forms - his current spline and stone sculptures use his patented process. Metcalf's sculptures reveal investigation into form with both organic and geometric surface transitions. All of these works explore the relationship between curves and how a combination of simple curves creates a complex form, which evokes tension, movement, and beauty. The New Mexico environment has had a powerful impact on his work, as he now blends parts of the New Mexican landscape with his graceful style.
In 2007 he completed two nearly thirty-foot tall sculptures located on Louisiana Avenue on each side of I – 40 for the City of Albuquerque. The Positive Energy of New Mexico was an ambitious two year project which further reveals Metcalf’s exploration with man-made vs. organic materials in an environment where one can contrast the Sandia Mountains with the Albuquerque skyline while viewing the work which represent earth, civilization, spirit and beyond. His latest work Speculation seems to defy gravity by suspending two granite boulders from a central crescent stainless steel spire in a site overlooking the Rio Grande in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Click for downloadable résumé.
Positive Energy of New Mexico, I – 40 & Louisiana Ave., Albuquerque, NM |
2005 - 2007 |
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City of Albuquerque Art in Public places Program & Federal Highway Enhancement Funds. Two 30 foot tall bronze and stainless steel sculptures one a mirror image of the other. The sculptures is comprised of three arcing bronze spires supporting stainless steel splines spiraling out of a stone boulder, all mounted on a tapered hexagonal stainless steel bases. http://www.nfo.edu/msculpture/msculpture.htm |
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James B. Davis, Chagrin Falls, OH |
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Bronze Mobius - Site specific 5' cast bronze sculpture with basalt pedestal. |
June 1996 |
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Bronze Compliments - Site specific 5' fabricated bronze and stone sculpture. |
July 1995 |
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Delfina Entrecanales Squires, London, England |
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| Eternal Spirit - Site-specific 4' sculpture in stainless steel, bronze, and stone. | 1994 - 1995 |
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Carolyn Revelle Hufbauer, Chevy Chase, MD |
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| Determination - Site-specific outdoor bronze sculpture. | Fall 1993 |
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City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA |
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| 8' x 7' x 8' replica of Henry Moore's "Points" (Collaboration) | Winter 1989 |
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Automotive Technology Building, Hobbs Junior College, Hobbs, NM |
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Bent Granite, Interdependence, Static Flexure - NM Arts' Art in Public Places Program |
July 2002 |
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Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, Albuquerque, NM |
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Evolving Spirit - Site-specific bronze sculpture |
Spring 2000 |
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Sandia National Laboratories, Small Business Assistance Engineering Grant |
Summer 2006 |
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Provided engineering assistance to determine if wire rope would be stiff enough to be |
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Capital Art Foundation, Permanent Collection - Arched Separation |
November 2001 |
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New Mexico State Capitol Building, Santa Fe, NM |
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U. S. Patent Number: 5,273,803 |
December 1993 |
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| "Apparatus and method for fabricating a skeleton frame work and finished product defining three-dimensional curved surface and volume." | ||
International Artist in Residence |
Summer 1992 |
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| Delfina Studio Trust, London, England | ||
Artist-in-Residence |
1989 - 1991 |
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Gutman Center, University of Pennsylvania, New Hope, PA |
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Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM - Professor |
1995 - Present |
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Chair: Expressive Arts Department |
2003 – 2005, 2008 - 2011 |
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| Albuquerque Commission ¾ leave of absence | Spring 2006 |
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| Sabbatical – Fabricate two 30’ sculptures for the City of Albuquerque | Fall 2006 – Spring 2007 |
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Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China |
June 2010 |
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Visiting Professor, Sculpture |
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University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA - M.F.A. Sculpture |
May 1990 |
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Proficiency in Architectural Structures (statics) |
2003 – 2005, 2008 - 2011 |
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Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY - B.S. Art |
May 1987 |
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Minor, History of Art |
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Mimbres Region Arts Council, Silver City, NM – Member |
1996 – Present |
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President |
2000 – 2001 |
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Washington Sculptors Group – Member |
1993 – 2000 |
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Board of Directors |
1994 - 1995 |
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Western New Mexico University Art Acquisition Committee – Chair |
2001 – Present |
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Purchased $14,000 of art work for campus though NM Arts Acclaimed Artists |
Spring 2004 |
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| Commissioned a $54,000 Sculpture through NM Arts – Art’s in public places | 2002-2003 |
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Museum Exhibitions: |
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Silver City Regional Juried Art Exhibit, WNMU Museum, Silver City, NM |
February-March 2009 |
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Combined Talents 2000, Museum of Fine Arts, FSU, Tallahassee, FL |
August-October 2000 |
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Across Borders/Sin Fronteras, The Art Museum of the Americas, Washington, DC |
May-July 1994 |
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Solo Exhibitions: |
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Seedboat Gallery, Silver City, NM |
April 2008 |
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Ekletikas Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 2004 |
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Ekletikas Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 2001 |
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Burris Hall Gallery, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM |
February 1997 |
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Godwin Gaspar Gallery, St. Louis, MO |
November-May 1996 |
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Frances McCray Gallery, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
September-October 1995 |
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Marlboro Gallery, Prince George's College, Largo, MD |
March 1994 |
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Cornelius Ayer Wood Gallery, Middlesex School, Concord, MA |
April 1991 |
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Two Person Exhibitions: |
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EDS Government Service Group, Herndon, VA |
Summer 1999 |
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Covington & Burling, Washington, DC |
Summer 1996 |
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The Cultural Arts Center of St. Michael's, St. Michael's, MD |
Summer 1995 |
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Mansion Gallery, Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD |
June 1993 |
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Juried Group Exhibitions: |
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Preston Contemporary Art Center, Mesilla, NM |
July – October 2011 |
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NM Down Under, South Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM |
Summer 2007 |
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Regional Invitational II Summer 2005 University Art Gallery, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM |
Summer 2005 |
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West by Southwest, Burris Hall Gallery, NMHU, Las Vegas, NM |
February 2004 |
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Silver City Regional Art Exhibition IV, McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 2003 |
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Inside/Outside, Guadalupe Fine Art & Sculpture Garden, Santa Fe, NM |
Summer 2000 |
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Sculpture 2000: 20th Invitational Exhibition, Montpelier Art Center, Laurel, MD |
Summer 2000 |
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Installation Show, McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 2000 |
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New Mexico Woodcarvers, Governor's Gallery, State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM |
Summer 1999 |
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Mimbres Region Arts Council Exhibition, Governor's Gallery, State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM |
Spring 1999 |
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Silver City Regional Art Exhibition, McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM |
Spring 1999 |
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Fall American Art Show, Museum of the Horse, Ruidoso Downs, NM |
Winter 1997 |
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Mimbres Regional Art Exhibition, McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 1997 |
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Return to Beauty, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts |
November-December 1995 |
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19th. M.C.J.A.E., Strathmore Arts Center, North Bethesda, MD |
July-August 1995 |
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Sculpture Invitational, Montgomery College, Rockville MD |
May-July 1995 |
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Penn Art, Center Square Building, Philadelphia, PA |
January-March 1995 |
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Sculpture Now-1995, Washington Square, Washington, DC |
January-March 1995 |
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AAC Annual, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA |
January-February 1995 |
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18th. M.C.J.A.E., Strathmore Arts Center, North Bethesda, MD |
July-August 1994 |
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White Flint Installation, White Flint, North Bethesda, MD |
April-June 1994 |
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Kristin Johnson Gallery, Washington, DC |
January-May 1993 |
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Penn MFA Retrospective, Philadelphia, PA |
September 1992 |
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Art Scape '92, Maryland Institute, Baltimore, MD |
July-August 1992 |
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The Tactile Show, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD |
June-August 1992 |
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16th. M.C.J.A.E., Strathmore Arts Center, Rockville, MD (Honorable Mention) |
March 1992 |
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Phillips Mill Exhibition, New Hope, PA |
October 1991 |
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Maryland Federation of Art Gallery, Annapolis, MD |
July 1990 |
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Group Exhibitions: |
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Faculty Exhibition, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
January - February 2009 |
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Chocolate Fantasia, Seedboat Gallery, Silver City, NM |
February 2009 |
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Weekend at the Galleries, Seedboat Gallery, Silver City NM |
October 2008 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
October 2005 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
October 2003 |
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Skidmore College Alumni Art Exhibition, Saratoga Springs, NY |
June 2002 |
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Middlesex School Centennial Alumni Art Exhibition, Concord MA |
June 2001 |
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WNMU Faculty Exchange Exhibition, Western Montana College, Dillon, MT |
November 1999 |
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MRAC Exhibition, Wells Fargo Bank, Silver City, NM |
Fall 1999 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
October 1999 |
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Weekend at the Galleries, XPO Gallery, Silver City, NM |
Fall 1998 |
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Eklektikas Gallery, Art Walk 1998, Silver City, NM |
Fall 1998 |
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Ongoing Exhibition, Mill Valley Sculpture Gardens, Mill Valley, CA |
Fall 1998 |
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Weekend at the Galleries, Broadway Gallery, Silver City, NM |
November 1997 |
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Veterans Park Commission - Model Exhibition, City Hall, Rockville, MD |
Fall 1997 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM |
November-December 1997 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD |
December 1993 |
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Faculty Exhibition, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD |
December 1992 |
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Gutman Center Exhibition, New Hope, PA |
April 1991 |
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Masters of Fine Arts Show, I.C.A., Philadelphia, PA |
May 1990 |
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Gutman Center Exhibition, New Hope, PA |
April 1990 |
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National Exposure: |
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Art and Geology, Dowse/Metcalf,International Geosciences Conference, Oslo, Norway |
August 2008 |
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Under Construction, Art Calendar the business magazine for visual Arts, Orlando, FL |
June 2008 |
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Catalogues: |
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Regional Invitational II Summer 2005 University Art Gallery, NMSU - Las Cruces, NM |
Summer 2005 |
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Combined Talents 2000 Exhibition, Museum of Fine Arts, FSU - Tallahassee, FL |
August 2000 |
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Sculpture 2000: Montpelier Invitational Exhibition, Montpelier Arts Center - Laurel, MD |
June 2000 |
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Across Borders/Sin Fronteras, The Art Museum Of The Americas - Washington, DC |
May 1994 |
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The Tactile Show, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center - Laurel, MD |
June 1992 |
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Reviews: |
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Just Sit, and Enjoy the Sculptures, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque NM |
October 10, 2009 |
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Metcalf Sculptures Grace Albuquerque’s Skyline, Silver City Life, Silver City, NM |
Summer 2008 |
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Artist Featured, Silver City Daily Press, SC, NM |
April 28, 2008 |
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People & Projects – Materials Man, Skidmore Scope Quarterly, Saratoga Springs, NY |
Spring 2008 |
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Positive Energy of New Mexico Sculpture Dedication, KOAT Chanel 7, Albuquerque, NM |
December 2, 2007 |
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Sculptures’ dedication to be held in Albuquerque, Silver City Daily Press, SC, NM |
November 15, 2007 |
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Dedication ceremony planned for prof’s twin sculptures, Silver City Sun-News, SC, NM |
November 15, 2007 |
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Going up, Silver City Daily Press, Silver City, NM |
September 26, 2007 |
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Artist ready to install sculpture in Albuquerque, Silver City Daily Press, Silver City, NM |
September 25, 2007 |
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Stranger in a strange, artistic land, Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces, NM |
September 9, 2007 |
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Ahead of the Curves, Desert Exposure, Silver City, NM |
September 2007 |
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The Arts: Michael Metcalf, Silver City Life, Silver City, NM |
Summer 2007 |
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Positive Energy, Silver City Sun-News, Silver City, NM |
August 5, 2007 |
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I-40/Louisiana Interchange Public Art Project, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM |
March 21 2006 |
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Sculpture – Michael Metcalf, by Richard Stejskal, abqARTS, Albuquerque NM |
March 2006 |
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Silver City Man’s Art Nominated for Uptown, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM |
June 23, 2005 |
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Sculptor wins contest to place artwork along freeway, SC Daily Press, Silver City, NM |
June 23 2005 |
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Comings & Goings, Pasatiempo - The New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM |
May 20, 2000 |
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Comings & Goings, Pasatiempo - The New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM |
March 26, 1999 |
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Weekend at the Galleries, Silver City Daily Press, Silver City, NM |
November 12, 1998 |
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The best in the contemporary art scene, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM |
February 2, 1997 |
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Lawyers court local artists and their work, Georgetown & Country - Middleburg, VA |
September 5, 1996 |
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Metcalf Opening a Success, The Mustang, WNMU - Silver City, NM |
October 3, 1995 |
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Two local galleries offer variety and insight, The Village News - Rockville, MD |
August 18, 1995 |
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Views poetic, realistic and just plain weird, The Gazette - Rockville, MD |
August 18, 1995 |
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MC showcases five sculptors, The Gazette - Rockville, MD |
June 28, 1995 |
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Atrium Art: Sculptures in the Square, The Washington Post Weekend - Washington DC |
January 13, 1995 |
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Across Borders/Sin Fronteras, Washington Review - Washington, DC |
October/November 1994 |
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Art in White Flint, News 7 at 5:00 WJLA Channel 7 - Washington, DC |
June 13, 1994 |
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Panorama - Spotlight, Prince George's Sentinel - Laurel, MD |
March 16, 1994 |
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Allies Exhibit, Beltsville News - Beltsville, MD |
March 1994 |
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MC-Rockville faculty displays diverse talent, The Gazette - Rockville MD |
December 15, 1993 |
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Sculptor Releases Hidden Forms of Nature, Montgomery Express - Rockville, MD |
June 23, 1993 |
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Sculptor Releases Hidden Forms of Nature, The Montgomery Journal - Rockville MD |
June 25, 1993 |
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Around Town, The Rockville Gazette - Rockville, MD |
June 2, 1993 |
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A Hands-On Exhibition, The Washington Post, Maryland Weekly - Laurel, MD |
July 7, 1992 |
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Visually impaired kids develop feeling for art, Laurel Leader - Laurel, MD |
July 16, 1992 |
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Gutman Center Exhibition, New Hope Examiner, New Hope, PA |
April 1991 |
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“A Visual Panorama Combining Contemporary Sculpture … Creative Process and Work” - Lecture |
April 2011 |
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“Michael Metcalf – The Public Art Process” – Lecture |
April 2008 |
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"From Small To Large – My Sculptural Process" - Lecture |
April 2006 |
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"Bronze Casting on a Shoe String/My Sculptural Process" - Lecture |
June 2000 |
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"How New Mexico Has Changed My Sculptural Process" - Gallery Talk |
February 1997 |
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"History of Sculpture and This Artist's Approach" - Lecture |
November 1996 |
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"Dynamic Form, Why and How" - Gallery Talk |
October 1995 |
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"Interdependence, How and Why" - Gallery Talk |
June 1994 |
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"Illusive Arcs: My Creative Process" - Lecture |
October 1993 |
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"The Evolution of My Work" - Gallery Talk |
June 1993 |
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"Bronze Casting" - Demonstration for: |
April 1993 |