On the Walls at CSU: Posters from the 1970s

Dates and Times

• Monday, Feb 9, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Thursday, Feb 12, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Friday, Feb 13, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Saturday, Feb 14, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Sunday, Feb 15, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Monday, Feb 16, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Thursday, Feb 19, 2026  9am - 5pm
• Friday, Feb 20, 2026  9am - 5pm
• + 87 more

Location

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Details

CSU Libraries presents On the Walls at CSU: Posters from the 1970s, a companion exhibition highlighting the visual culture, student activism, and creative energy that shaped Colorado State University during a pivotal decade. On view in CSU’s Morgan Library through Spring 2026, the exhibition features posters, exhibition panels, and publications produced at CSU in the 1970s and preserved in the University Archives.

Part of a triple milestone celebration marking the 50th anniversary of CSU’s University Archives, the 150th anniversary of the State of Colorado, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, On the Walls at CSU invites visitors into a decade defined by bold graphic design, grassroots activism, and a renewed interest in history and identity.

The posters on display advertised campus activities and events and would have been encountered by students as they moved across campus. Many were designed by CSU Graphic Design emeritus professors and internationally recognized artists Bob Coonts, Phil Risbeck, and John Sorbie, whose work helped define the university's visual language during this era.

Also featured are exhibition panels celebrating major academic milestones for CSU Libraries, including the acquisition of the 800,000th and 1,000,000th volumes. These materials reflect a period of significant growth for the Libraries, coinciding with CSU’s emergence as a premier research institution.

Selections from The Rocky Mountain Collegian and The Silver Spruce yearbook further document student life in the 1970s, revealing a campus community actively engaged in free speech, advocacy, institutional change, and cultural expression.

Together, the posters, panels, and publications on view illustrate how creativity and activism shaped everyday campus life while laying foundations for the university’s future. Preserved within CSU’s Archives and Special Collections, these materials remain available for research and rediscovery by today’s CSU community.

Exhibition Details:
On the Walls at CSU: Posters from the 1970s
Spring – Summer 2026 (opens on Feb 9, 2026)
Morgan Library, CSU Libraries (South Entrance Gallery)

For more information, please visit lib.colostate.edu or contact Silvia Minguzzi, Designer and Exhibition Coordinator at CSU Libraries, at silvia.minguzzi@colostate.edu.

This event is produced by an outside organization and is unaffiliated with the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA website serves as a marketing outlet for events and promotions occurring inside the Downtown boundary. For questions regarding the event, please contact the event producer.