Sculptor Michael Metcalf WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE L. STEELE PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT “JAIME” RAMIREZ
The ruggedness of the New Mexico landscape has left its imprint on Silver City sculptor Michael Metcalf and his work has left its imprint on the land that inspired him. A practicing sculptor in the Washington D.C. area when he was hired in 1995 to teach art and sculpture at Western New Mexico University, Michael was immediately enamored with the New Mexico landscape. Inspired by rocks, from grains of sand to giant boulders, he found the Land of Enchantment to be a sculptor’s delight. “I grew up on the East Coast, where all the rocks are covered by vegetation and dirt,” he said. On his way into Silver City, he stopped at The City of Rocks State Park, and was amazed by the giant, sculptured rock formations created by a volcanic eruption and weathered over time. “During my interview, Claude Smith told me to drive the Inner Loop up to Pinos Altos and out to Mimbres and that was a really important tip for me,” he said. “The diversity of the landscape, nature and trees was really inspirational.” 30 – SILVER CITYLIFE