Solstice/ Solstice II

Stephen C. Metzger, 1986

This steel, fiberglass, resin, and aluminum scultpure is located in Newquist Sculpture Court at the Visual Arts Center. It was commissioned by the Associated Students as remembrance for members of the university family who encountered untimely deaths during the 1985-86 school year.

The original sculpture, Solstice, consisted of overlapping slabs of steel, fiberglass, resin and aluminum in colors inspired by artist Mark Rothko’s color palette and reminiscent of desert rock formations. When this artwork became damaged beyond repair, the Titan Student Union commissioned a new version from Metzger, a Cal State Fullerton alumnus. Solstice II is made entirely of aluminum and, like the earlier version, is intended to serve as a campus memorial for students, staff, and faculty who have died. The installation date for the new work was June 21 – summer solstice.

Stephen Metzger (1948– ) earned his BA, MA, and MFA from Cal State Fullerton. He maintains a studio in Orange County but is also a working musician and songwriter. His wall constructions are included in a number of corporate offices in Orange County and in the Laguna Art Institute.