Downtown Fort Worth has gone purple. TCU’s 96-by-90-foot mural is complete in Sundance Square and will remain at its location on the southeast corner of 5th and Throckmorton streets for at least five years.
The artwork is being used to celebrate the historical and integral relationship with Fort Worth as the university closes out its Sesquicentennial.
“The mural was designed with the goal to unify TCU and Fort Worth, showing that TCU is Fort Worth's university,” said Trevor Scott ’22, who designed the mural. “Together they serve as the home for proud alumni, fans and the great community of the city.”
Each element of the design was drawn by hand, with illustrations representing prominent features of the city and the university. Custom typography blends the established, nostalgic feeling of Fort Worth with the vibrant energy of Horned Frog spirit, explained Scott, a graduate of TCU’s Department of Design in the College of Fine Arts.
“My favorite component of the mural is the typography because it serves as a focal
point of the design and is interactive within the composition,” he said. “The energetic
typography and use of overlaps with illustrations helps guide the viewer to other
features of the layout, while creating movement to enliven the design.”
The relationship between TCU and Fort Worth began in 1869 when founders Addison and Randolph Clark established the Male and Female Seminary of Fort Worth, which was located in downtown Fort Worth. The seminary’s name changed twice – to AddRan Christian College in 1870 and then Texas Christian University in 1896. In 1923, during TCU’s Jubilee Year, university students and others gathered downtown for the TCU Jubilee Parade outside First Christian Church, located just a block away from the newest mural site.
“As we set our sights on the next 150 years, it’s fitting to celebrate our deep connection with our city that has done so much for, and with, TCU,” Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. “We are pleased to leave this tangible mark on downtown Fort Worth, just as Horned Frogs leave a lasting positive impact in our community.”
Sasha Bass, member of the TCU Board of Trustees, along with husband Ed Bass, said, “TCU and Sundance Square are vital components of Fort Worth, one of America’s great cities. We applaud TCU for reaching this incredible milestone and are thrilled to continue growing the strong ties between the university and downtown.”
TCU’s ties to its hometown are stronger than ever. In addition to the mural, visitors and locals can experience more exciting elements of TCU’s 150th anniversary finale at Frogs on Fourth: A Purple Pop-Up, also in Sundance Square, through the end of the calendar year.
“I can't wait to see how the mural impacts the Fort Worth community,” Scott said. “With its prominent location in Sundance Square, I hope that the mural engages the community for years to come, and I am truly honored to be a part of this project.”