Colorado Mesa University announced it is expanding its Campus Art Walk and outdoor art installation through a new collaboration with the Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority and its Art on the Corner program.

The university said in a news release that the partnership will create new opportunities for students, artists and the community to experience art on CMU’s campus. The expanded Campus Art Walk will build on CMU’s commitment to making art a visible and accessible part of campus life integrated with community collaboration.

Through the partnership, artwork procured by the DDA will become part of the on-campus statue collection on a rotating basis. The first two pieces were installed Oct. 2, the same day that three new pieces created by CMU students were installed as part of the Art on the Corner collection found along downtown Main Street.

The DDA’s Art on the Corner Program complements the Campus Art Walk, which begins at the front doors of the Moss Performing Arts Center and extends through the heart of campus to the front door of Asteria Theatre. The eastern terminus of the Campus Art Walk features a newly procured statue of Mary Rait, and the western terminus of the Campus Art Walk features a newly procured maverick bull statue, titled “Duster,” anchoring the new campus roundabout in the heart of the CMU Formation District.

“A critical role of our university is to help inspire awe and wonder among students, faculty, staff and our community at large,” CMU President John Marshall said. “The transformative power of the arts is alive and well on our campus, and this new partnership with the DDA only serves to enhance both of our efforts to engage our community through beautiful art pieces.”