These photos below illustrate the completed project. After installation, the tiles were grouted with colored grout, cleaned and sealed. The last step was to install the cast stone with the eight lines from the school song.

Visions from the Matador Song

Artist Statement

These eight mosaics represent glimpses of Texas Tech football through the years. Some of these are visions of fleeting, magical moments such as Michael Crabtree’s touchdown catch to win a monumental victory in 2008. Other glimpses are timeless such as the 1925 team football portrait mosaic, Elmer Tarbox, Tech’s first All-American and the Masked Rider image. The school song, the “Matador Song” is also timeless. I offer to the viewer an image for each of the eight lines of the school song.

Special thanks to my wife and partner Tarrie Sue Straube Pirtle.

Thanks to Tech sports photographers Michael Strong and Norvell Kennedy for the use of some of their photographs.

Kenneth D. Pirtle

BFA

Texas Tech 1970