Art in Public Places: Steel Spat
By Jil Rosentrater

Steel Splat, a colorful metal sculpture by Doris Laughton-Smith was installed on the Colorado State University in November, 2007. The $10,200 public art piece was placed in the sculpture garden in front of the new University Center for the Arts, located at 1400 Remington Street. The UCA is across the street from Annual Trail Gardens and Gazebo, the number one tourist attraction for Ft. Collins in the summer months.

Doris Laughton said of her work “in my broad use of metaphor and hydrostatics, the energetic, biomorphic, swooping, curving, looping and spontaneous forms all express images akin to a drop of water, the origins of life, as well as the graceful sensual curves of the human body. Through them I seek to work out the aesthetic relationships between rigor, freedom and play.”

Steel Splat is made of steel coated with enamel and is 8’ X 5’6” X 5”. Steel Splat has a wonderful play of shadows both night and day and is in the warm colors. The materials are appropriate and address the issues of safety, exposure to the elements, durability, maintenance, and minimize the affects of graffiti. 

This is one of fifteen public art projects being managed by the Colorado Council on the Arts at college campuses and state institutions. Artists need to register at callforentry.org to participate in the program. Notification of all CCA public art opportunities are posted on callforentry.org and the CCA website.