Sign in
Celebrating Fort Worth’s Forgotten Heritage
Cowtown is quickly becoming the City of Murals.
From the sublime to the silly, from the intellectually challenging to just a big ol’ “Howdy,” Fort Worth has embraced public art in a big way. There are numerous blog posts devoted to our city’s murals, and they grace countless Instagram posts.
But some murals have a deeper meaning. Westbend’s “Y’all Means All” mural encourages us to love our neighbors. Vanessa Guillén, who was murdered at Fort Hood, is remembered in a mural at 3604 Hemphill. Atatiana Jefferson’s beautiful eyes gaze out from her mural at 1701 Evans. And earlier this year, a mural celebrating historic Black businesses was unveiled at 2800 Yeager.
Commissioned by CommUnity Frontline, the mural celebrates Fort Worth Black businesses and business owners. Amanda Davis, mother of Stop Six, is featured, as is Fort Worth ISD administrator and educator Dennis Dunkins. Black-owned businesses Hotel Dryce, Black Coffee, and The Dock Bookshop are represented.
CommUnity Frontline commissioned Texas artist Armando Castelan to create this mural, and it was completed just in time for Black History Month 2023. I reached out to the artist to talk about his background and his mural.
[Editor’s Note: In October, CommUnity Frontline announced a new mural collaboration with Armando. Stay tuned!]
Born in Puebla, Mexico, Armando grew up in Houston. When he was in high school, he knew that he wanted to be an artist, but he didn’t pursue a formal art education. “I had no additional schooling once I graduated,” Armando said, “So I began practicing with various mediums and taking commissions. After doing this for a while, I was presented with the opportunity to work for a mural company. I did well and enjoyed it… and later worked with another muralist before I decided to go on my own.”
After establishing himself as a muralist, a digital artist, and a painter in Houston, Armando recently settled in Fort Worth. And then he heard about a mural that CommUnity Frontline was hoping to commission.
“I happened to see that CommUnity Frontline was raising money for a mural,” said Armando. “I had already met Frank Moss, one of the founders of CommUnity Frontline. I approached him and asked if they needed assistance with the mural project, and he introduced me to the rest of the CommUnity Frontline team… After seeing my portfolio and having some discussions, they agreed to have me be the muralist for the project.”
Photo courtesy of Armando CastelanMa
While CommUnity Frontline had decided that the mural would depict Black entrepreneurs both past and present, they didn’t have a design. “They provided me with photos that they had collected, and I did my own research while working toward the design,” Armando said. “After some renditions and revisions, they settled on a design.”
I talked with Quinton “Q” Phillips, Fort Worth ISD trustee and one of CommUnity Frontline’s founders, about Armando and the mural. When I asked why CommUnity Frontline wanted to commission a piece of public art, he said, “Community Development and Beautification is a core pillar of CommUnity Frontline’s efforts. We believe it’s important to show pride in our historically neglected neighborhoods and to showcase their rich heritage as well as to take care of our neighbor’s surroundings.
“We decided to commission a mural on the Eastside to showcase the often forgotten history of the impact that Black owned businesses have had and continue to have on greater Fort Worth… [Armando] began to truly understand the purpose and essence of what we wanted to capture. He had a wonderful vision of the direction it should go and how to encompass all that we wanted to convey. His talent took over, and the rest is actual history. He saw our care for the community, he shares that care, and it comes through brilliantly in his art.”
Mia Moss, whose Black Coffee is featured in the mural, said, “It is an honor for my business to be mentioned, let alone forever painted in a mural next to legends and trailblazers like Amanda Davis and Dr. Marie Holliday… Watching Armando bring all these generations of black businesses together was emotional and beautiful. I am forever grateful for the gift he gave by creating this mural…”
Apart from the mural at 2800 Yeager, you can see more of Armando’s art around town. “I have one mural at 2nd and Grove Street and a concrete pillar of a bridge over Trinity Trail Park as part of a mural project organized by local artists… I hope to do more outdoors and to continue to represent Fort Worth as an artist.”
