As part of its engagement with its place, Confluence and the adjacent plaza feature works by a number of noted Colorado artists. [au]workshop was thrilled to be able to collaborate directly with a number of the the artists, and in other cases we learned a great deal from being on the stakeholder side in discussions with local arts agencies.

Below is part one our three-post series on these works, focused on the plaza. In the coming weeks we will examine the works within and on the building itself.

For residential and commercial unit availability, please see confluencefc.com, and please be sure to come visit Oak Street Plaza in person!

River-focused works IN WILLOW STREET PLAZA

Although it feels like a part of Confluence, with expansive storefronts opening directly onto the plaza, and Tivoli lighting that ties directly to the building, the Willow Street Plaza is a City of Fort Collins project, designed by local landscape architecture firm BHA Design. The space houses two intertwined works with links to the Poudre River habitat and the historic Mill Race:

In Praise of the Poudre, Andy Dufford, Chevo Studios

• A series of four granite sculptures, ranging from 8’-15’ tall, with aluminum mesh panels that house internal lighting. There are three distinct finishes to each monolith: bush-hammered (rough), flamed (medium), and polished (smooth and glossy). The polished surfaces feature relief carvings of local flora and fauna.

• From City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places: “Artist Andrew Dufford and Chevo Studios worked with the City of Fort Collins Engineering and Utilities Departments as part of the Art in Public Places Program to develop a series of sculptures that enliven the plaza and educate visitors about water quality and natural water systems in Fort Collins.”

• See more on the very challenging carving and placement process (granite is heavy!) at City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places’ website.

Life-Source; With Intention, BHA Design

• LED computer controlled lighting in custom ceramic and glass raceways.

• From BHA Design: “Lights underfoot evoke mingling waters along the area’s original millrace that once fed a mill waterwheel east of Confluence (now known as Ranch-Way Feeds). This art is a broad look at our relationship with the river over time and how it has changed from the driving source of our settlement to now a resource we shape for our needs. In this interpretation, it’s hard to tell if the lights influenced the planters, or the other way around, much like our built edge adjacent the river.”