Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard kicked off the dedication of a very large sculpture of stainless steel columns and two several thousand pound boulders on the side of the campus by Old James Stadium.

"Art is what makes us human," Shepard said in reference to the sculpture, created by Michael Metcalfe, former Department of Expressive Arts chair.

Shepard also explained the overcoat he was wearing on the cloudy, chilly day. "When my dad died, my mom gave me his coat. This coat has symbolism just like art does."

Metcalfe named his created sculpture, which rises over the surrounding campus, "Collaboration."

The sculptor thanked the university committee that awarded him a sabbatical to create the sculpture, which he worked on for about four years.

Metcalfe described the two boulders, with the one being attached by steel tubes to the three steel curved columns as weighing about 5,000 pounds and the other at the base about 8,000. Both were without cracks and estimated to be about 1.4 billion years old. He said many people had helped him with the sculpture, including on creating the subtle swirls on the shiny surface of the steel spires. He gave credit to his wife, Christine Rickman, for helping with some of the detailed work on the massive project.

The sculpture was put together at his home studio, and then with the help of a crane, it was taken apart and reassembled on the university site.

It all came about because Jack Crocker, provost and vice president of student affairs, said when he arrived at Western that he wanted projects that would set Western apart from other universities in the state to emphasize the status of WNMU being a liberal arts school.

Metcalfe said the 5,000 pound boulder represents the student and the other boulder the family of the student.

He noted that the boulders were as nature, "our creator, created them. Collaboration is the short title, with the full title on the plaque calling it 'Collaboration, the Student's Journey.' He wanted it to represent the goals of the student's journey at its beginning and at its end."

Regent President Mary Hotvedt said she is fascinated with the creative process, as a non-artist in a family of artists. "I know that the first idea changes into another idea and then again into another idea. It's a long journey, and I hope you have a video of the creation of this piece and how it evolved into this sculpture representing a student taking flight."

Metcalfe and Rickman cut the ribbon to dedicate the sculpture.

Everyone attending was invited to partake of the food set out for them. The goodies included scones, mini-quiches, burrito bites, brownies and other enticing foods.

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