Colter Peterson/MSU News Service
A new large-scale art installation celebrating Montana State University’s student-athletes is now on display for public viewing
The artwork is on the west-facing exterior of Shroyer Gym on the MSU campus, located between the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and Jones Hall. It is viewable to passersby and those traveling in vehicles through campus on 11th Avenue and Lincoln Street
Comprised of 15 panels with original printed illustrations that blend together into a comprehensive mural, the artwork represents all the men’s and women’s sports teams overseen by MSU Athletics. Each panel is made of thick vinyl ranging in size from 9 to 12 feet wide and 33 to 37 feet tall, and is coated with UV and weather protectant, with the combined panels spanning the entirety of the gym’s roughly 170-foot exterior
“We have a rich history of athletic success at MSU, and this mural will pay homage to all our student-athletes and the sports they represent,” said Leon Costello, director of athletics at MSU. “The west wall on Shroyer Gym is basically a giant billboard, and we are proud it will now highlight our athletic department.”
Installation took place the week of Aug. 17, in time for the start of MSU’s fall semester on Aug. 26. In preparation, minor repairs were completed on Shroyer Gym: the entire west face of the building (approximately 8,000 square feet) was repainted to refresh the building’s appearance and connect it visually with the Student Wellness Center
The project has a two-fold goal: highlight the ongoing success of MSU’s Bobcat Athletics and make the campus corridor adjacent to 11th Avenue more visually appealing
The original artwork was entirely hand-drawn by co-director of MSU Creative Services Robert Rath. A career graphic designer and illustrator, he said the mural is the largest project he’s worked on to date
Kelly Gorham/MSU News Service
Rath spent several months designing the mural, going through multiple drafts to ensure all 13 athletic teams were included, visible and met the expectations of university constituents
Rath created illustrations of generalized student-athletes, aiming for bold lines and simplicity so the art would still be appealing from far away, but with enough detail for up-close viewing. Computer files eventually became banners installed by Bozeman-based company SCS Wraps
Rath said his career highlights include developing the character design for “Goosebumps,” a popular children’s book series that features iconic illustrations of monsters. He has also painted several murals and designs on garage doors in Bozeman and designed the custom license plate for the Montana Wilderness Association that features a western meadowlark and a bitterroot flower. But the Shroyer Gym mural will be the largest physical display of his artistic talent to date — something Rath is staying humble about.
“Aside from it being a huge honor, it will be kind of weird,” Rath said of seeing his work in such a public-facing location. “I don’t like to draw too much attention to myself.”
At MSU, Rath and his co-director Matthew Grimes help every college and department meet their graphic design needs in addition to taking on larger projects such as this mural. To request the help of MSU Creative Services, go to www.montana.edu/creativeservices/
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