Steve Metzger meshes artwork with music

Suzie Harrison

Artist Steve Metzger’s new solo exhibit will open at

[seven-degrees] with an artist reception from 6 to 9 p.m. next

Thursday, Sept. 5.

Along with being a painter, Metzger is a musician and will be

performing live music that is themed to his work. He will sing and

play songs on the piano that relate to his paintings.

“We’re very excited about adding the musical aspect to the

exhibit. We haven’t had the musical component where the artist is

singing live,” marketing director Allison Ahlfeldt said. “We’re

excited about the new element.”

Metzger grew up in Southern California and his large oil on canvas

paintings are a depiction of changes in our culture.

“By depicting the ruins and relics that still exist along

America’s old roads and highways, I think of them as portraits of

places connected to the hopes and dreams of the past,” Metzger said.

Ahlfeldt said that the large sizes of the pieces work well in the

space at [seven-degrees]. Metzger explained that he paints subject as

they are.

“The light and atmosphere that interacts with them happens when I

photograph them and change them through the interpretive process,” he

said.

The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 30. [seven-degrees]

is at 891 Laguna Canyon Road.

Information: 376-1555.