Austin College and Grand Central Station Collaborate on Mural Project

SHERMAN, TEXAS —Austin College students, faculty, and staff, along with alumni and members of the community, have completed a mural at local nonprofit Grand Central Station as part of the Austin College 2024 Posey Leader-In-Residence series. The collaborative, paint-by-numbers style project showcases the services that Grand Central Station offers to community members in need. The mural can be viewed at 619 E. Houston Street, Sherman, Texas.

The 10’ X 50’ mural was designed by Maddie Wilson ’23, Assistant Director of Graphic Design Production for Austin College. Mike Goolsby ’87, owner of Roberts Decorator Supply, generously donated paint and supplies for the project.

“Grand Central Station had been planning a mural for some time, and I’m so glad it has finally come to fruition, especially now that it is tied to the College’s Posey Leadership Award and has attracted so much community involvement,” said Wilson. “Creating this mural was a challenge, as I’ve never done anything so big before, but I am so pleased with how it turned out. I hope people will drive past and think about how they helped make this happen for many years to come.”

The community project was inspired by the 2024 Posey Leadership Award recipient, Rick Lowe. Lowe is a Houston-based artist and activist who has worked with communities around the world to use art as a springboard for social understanding. Perhaps best known as the founder of Houston’s Project Row Houses, his practice is rooted in working with members of a community to address and resolve social issues. Lowe has exhibited art around the globe and his many accolades include the Heinz Award in the arts and humanities, 2002; the Creative Time Annenberg Prize for art and social change, 2010; an appointment to the National Council on the Arts by President Barack Obama, 2013; and the MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship, 2014.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.