Thurgood Marshall College at the University of California, San Diego, recently unveiled a new public arts mural installation, “Martin Luther King & 37th Street” in celebration of the college’s 40th anniversary and the university’s 50th anniversary.

The presence of the street sign is an homage to the evidence of organizing and lobbying to formalize Martin Luther King Jr. memorials, renaming of city streets and the establishment of his birthday as a recognized holiday.

“The sign evokes the rich history of Thurgood Marshall College,” said Provost Allan Havis. “It’s also a reflection of the college’s diverse culture and philosophy of tolerance, activism and equality.”

The mural is a part of the college’s public outdoor works of art located on the Thurgood Marshall College campus, designed to celebrate the college’s 40th anniversary.

Created by Sadie Barnette, a visual arts graduate student at UC San Diego, the mural is an optical illusion at the entrance of Thurgood Marshall College. It is designed to transport visitors to an urban city street [in Oakland, Calif.] where there is a street sign bearing King’s name.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a name considered for the college; however Third College was renamed in 1993 after Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Similar to King, Marshall is widely recognized for his dedication to civil rights and breaking down barriers to education.

UC San Diego’s campus is also home to the community mural “Chicano Legacy.” The mural is a collage of vivid colorful images and features iconic figures in Chicano history such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, along with San Diego landmarks Chicano Park and the Coronado Bridge. The mural is designed to reflect the diversity of California and create a welcoming environment to all groups of students in both our region and state.

Thurgood Marshall College is a part of UC San Diego’s six-college system that provides students with many of the advantages of a small liberal arts college plus the opportunities and resources of a large research university.

For more information on Thurgood Marshall College’s 40th anniversary, visit http://marshall.ucsd.edu/40th/. For more information on UC San Diego’s 50th anniversary, visit http://50th.ucsd.edu/.