Forest Stand

Artist

Stephen Shachtman

Year

2025

Location

I-25 and Prospect Rd Interchange

Description

The I-25 and Prospect interchange has been identified as a gateway into Fort Collins. Emphasis is placed on the west side of the highway to create a strong sense of arrival into Fort Collins. The overall design is inspired by rock formations found around Horsetooth Reservoir. Fort Collins APP artist Stephen Shachtman was selected through an RFQ process and collaborated with the Project Team to develop artwork for this site. The proposed site-specific installation will further enhance the west side of the highway.

 A forest stand is defined as a contiguous community of trees that is sufficiently uniform in its composition, structure, age, size, spatial arrangement. This concept, titled Forest Stand, serves as the inspiration for the proposed sculptural installation for the gateway to Fort Collins at the I-25 Prospect interchange. The goal of the artwork is to reflect the identity of Fort Collins, welcome both visitors and residents, and integrate seamlessly with the surrounding landscape architecture to form a cohesive vision.

Forest Stand includes eighteen stylized tree sculptures in three different heights:  22', 13', and 12'. Nine sculptures will be placed on the top plateaus of each the north and south sides of Prospect Rd., just east of the on- and off-ramps connecting to I-25. The sculptures will be crafted from Corten weathering steel and will develop a rich warm orange-brown patina. The artist is working with the Project Team to integrate the sculptures into the landscape design.

 

Photos

Artist Stephen Shachtman in his studio with one of the tree sculptures in progress.