Exhibition Celebrates Colorado State University History, Traditions Through Dec. 13

The Curfman Gallery at Colorado State University will display 130 years of the school’s history in an exhibition titled "DECADES-History and Traditions of Colorado State University." The display of photographs and memorabilia from the university’s past will run through Dec. 13, with a reception scheduled for Nov. 15.

The exhibit celebrates the heritage of the state’s land grant institution and gives visitors glimpses into campus life from the present back to 1870, when Colorado State was founded as Agricultural College of Colorado.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Colorado State University Alumni Association and Student Alumni Connection will host a Traditions Reception from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Curfman Gallery and adjacent Student Art Lounge. The reception is free and open to the public and will feature hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Mike Davis, executive director of CSU Alumni Association, will make remarks at 7 p.m. For reservations, call (970) 491-6533.

"It is important for students and community members to understand the depth of tradition our university has to offer," said Emily Porter of Colorado State’s Student Alumni Connection. "CSU has been many things in the past, and our Aggie heritage has shaped today’s university. Understanding CSU’s history and tradition gives me a better grasp of the essence of CSU and enriches my college experience."

The result of collaborative efforts by student organizations, the Colorado State University Alumni Association and the Lory Student Center Arts Program, the exhibition is designed as a way for alumni to remember the past and as a tool for connecting the current university community with the institution’s traditions and history.

"Every once in a while, people need to focus on their roots and recollect their past just to see what has changed and reflect on what they’ve learned," said Josie Maldonado, cultural community chairperson for the Association for Student Activity Programming. "The same should apply to institutions. This exhibit will allow CSU students, faculty and staff to remember the past of CSU and reflect on how the institution has grown."

Curfman Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon-4 p.m. All exhibits in the gallery, located in the Lory Student Center on campus, are free and open to the public.

For more information, call the Curfman Gallery at (970) 491-2810 or contact Matthew Helmer, Lory Student Center arts coordinator, at (970) 491-5838.