monday, September 23, 2019
COLLEGIAN.COM
Vol. 129, No. 12
CIIPE opens Curfman with 70 artists, 25 countries Posters on display inspire conversations about international art and culture
By Arrion Smith @arriesmith_
In the early ‘90s, Stitzel got married. However, the marriage didn’t last long and ended in a “nasty divorce.” Following the divorce, Stitzel said he became dependent on alcohol, which he described as an offand-on experience. But things got worse. After his mother was diagnosed with cancer, Stitzel moved in with her to try and support her through her sickness.
The Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition opened for its 21st installation on Sept. 20, once again challenging perceptions of graphic art and how it relates to life across the globe. CIIPE is a biennial art show hosted at various galleries around campus, and it features artist talks and special events. Held since 1979 by Colorado State University’s department of art and art history, the show features a pool of acclaimed graphic artists from all over the world. This year’s exhibition represented 70 artists and 25 countries. “I learned about the show back when I was looking for an art school,” said Heidi Leech, an alumna of the department. “The poster show was a big reason why I chose Colorado State. It covers cultural and political stuff and transcends language.” The art pieces utilize the popular medium of graphic design to portray powerful statements that hold universal meaning to different people and cultures. The simple display at the Lory Student Center’s Curfman Gallery highlighted each of the artists’ unique stories in an accessible way.
see MISSION on page 4 >>
see CIIPE on page 20 >>
David Stitzel works on refurbishing a bike in his home near Colorado State University’s campus in central Fort Collins. Stitzel refurbishes and fixes bikes that he later donates to people in need through a partnership with the FoCo Cafe. PHOTO BY FORREST CZARNECKI THE COLLEGIAN
The wheel deal, one man’s mission to help those in need By Austin Fleskes @AustinFleskes07
David Stitzel has been through it all: family sickness, horrible injury and homelessness. But now, with a life of experience behind him, he has turned his eye to helping the community. Stitzel finds and refurbishes abandoned bikes from across Fort Collins and donates them to those in need through a partnership with FoCo Cafe, a non-profit, commu-
nity based cafe in northern Fort Collins. Stitzel’s desire to serve the community grew from his experiences and struggles with homelessness, which make his success story all the more gratifying. The life of David Stitzel Stitzel moved to Fort Collins when he was just two years old and grew up on East Laurel Street, just minutes away from Colorado State University. “(My dad) taught here at CSU
until he retired, and I believe that was 20 plus years,” Stitzel said. “My mother taught over there for a time as well.” Stitzel said that his mom was a large part of his upbringing and an even larger influence on his life. Stitzel said his mother was both religious and involved in the community, staying up night after night to write federal grants for her program that would soon become the Neighbor to Neighbor program.