CSU vs. Wyoming rivalry game will include wager between art museums

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — This year’s Border War game between Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming will have more than gridiron glory and the Bronze Boot at stake. The art museum of the victorious university in Friday’s contest will get to display an artwork from the loser’s collection until the end of the school year in May.  

The Gregory Allicar Museum of Art and University of Wyoming Art Museum have each chosen a work from their rival’s collection for the wager. 

If CSU wins, their museum will borrow a horse from the Cowboys, displaying Beth Van Hoesen’s 1991 painting “Pale Horse.”

If the University of Wyoming wins, their museum will display Roxanne Swentzell’s 1994 sculpture “Mask Maker.”

The museums, and the universities, are about 70 miles apart across the Colorado/Wyoming border. Staff from both museums will visit the museums together on Monday, when the loan is scheduled to be delivered. 

“It’s already been a win for us by getting to know each other and each other’s fabulous collections better,” GAMA Director Lynn Boland said in a news release. “There really isn’t a loser here. But still, go Rams!”  

“While this is a great opportunity to share artwork between our two institutions, our audiences will miss seeing a signature piece at the losing museum, so let’s go Pokes!” Nicole Crawford, UWAM director and chief curator, said in the release. 

The rivalry game between the Rams and the Cowboys kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins.