Client: City of Fort Collins
Location: Fort Collins, CO, United States
Completion date: 2016
Project Team
Artist
Sutton Betti
Sutton Betti Sculptures
Other
Fort Collins Area Swim Team
Overview
Master Swimmer is a life size bronze sculpture cantilevered on two 72″ tall concrete columns with turquoise colored glass representing the level of the water.
Goals
The sculpture is permanently installed in front of a pool and ice facility that is home to CSU Hockey and Water Polo Teams, Fort Collins Area Swim Team (FAST) and the Fort Collins Figure Skating Club. Since there were two sculptures representing ice hockey and figure skating, but none representing swimming it was important to fill this void with a realistic sculpture portraying a freestyle stroke.
Process
Sutton designed and sculpted Master Swimmer after discussing with the client his objectives and meeting with swimming coaches teaching Sutton the nuances of perfect freestyle stroke technique. Once the design was approved by the client and the city work began. The artist worked with a structural engineer to ensure that his design would be safe, a custom concrete manufacturer, a bronze foundry, glass maker, art models and independents in the business of bronze casting.