The King and Queen of Interstate 78

Tom Sternal’s King and Queen, c. 1990 featured on LUAG’s Spring 2016 brochure are not very centrally located on campus, but they are probably seen by thousands of viewers a day. Located next to Interstate 78 on the Goodman Campus these sculptures were strategically installed for observation from the highway. Towering at tree height they are most visible during seasons when the leaves are not on the trees.

King and QueenTom Sternal was originally from Minnesota and moved to the Lehigh Valley for a position at Muhlenberg College. While at Muhlenberg, he formed a close relationship with prominent art collectors, Philip and Muriel Berman. The relationship spurred the creation of large, abstract, late century sculptures which garnered him much recognition. His accolades include receiving the Governor’s Award in the Arts, Kentucky and a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and lecture in Seoul Korea.

Many of Sternal’s sculptures are located right here in the Lehigh Valley, and several of them are included in LUAG’s Outdoor Collection. Vertical Form I, II and III are clustered together on Packer Avenue across from the Zoellner Arts Center. King and Queen on our brochure are accessible by foot by following a rough hiking path on Goodman Campus but are best observed by driving west on Interstate 78 and looking to the right after passing the Hellertown exit.

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