6 Places in Old Town to Find Public Art That Everyone Can Enjoy
Whether you’re an art junkie or not, you will love how pleasing Fort Collins is to the eye. Anyone who has walked around Old Town has noticed some of the public art. What some might not know is that there are several hidden gems in Old Town. All you have to do is look around corners and down alleys!
1. Dalzell Alley
These pieces of art, hand drawn by children, are engraved into the stone as you walk through Dalzell Alley towards Alleycat Cafe.
Dalzell Alley, continued.
Also near Alleycat Cafe is one of Fort Collins’ most famous pieces of public art. Fort Collins has collected several pianos that get repainted by local artists every summer and displayed around Old Town. You can learn more about Pianos About Town on their Facebook page here.
3. Oak Street Plaza
This is the gathering place in Old Town. The Lighting Ceremony happens here in November. Artists and musicians come here to show off their work. But during the summer, the pianos are painted under a tent for everyone to admire as the artist is working.
Below is Ren Burke finishing up her design. She’s been working for three weeks and just finished!
4. Jazz Alley.
This art luxury is hidden on the north side of Mountain Street, less than a block west of Walnut Street. The large mural was painted by Terry McNerney. He’s an influential man in the public art world, contributing murals and the painting of the transformer boxes { number 6 on this list }.
You don’t want to miss this alley’s mural. There is also a piano right at the entrance!
5. Lyric Cinema Cafe
This cafe, known for live shows and unique open mic nights called Story Swap, is also home to one of the city’s pianos.
6. Muntezuma Fuller Alley
What a mouthful! This alley is tucked away, but contains several of one of the city’s most well known forms of public art: Transformer Boxes. They are scattered all throughout the city, but I found five just on this small stretch of alley!
Click on this link if you’d like to find out more about the public art scattered around Fort Collins.
All photos taken by Madeline Hayes.
