About the artwork
Amanda Wilson
PSU Facilities, 2016
Acrylic and spray paint on panel
Located in the University Services Building, 2nd floor corridor
This mural was the result of a call to artists to fill a blank space in the hallway outside the Facilities offices.
Artist statement: “For the mural in Facilities, I wanted to create something that would represent the employees as well as speak to them as they pass and view the mural on a regular basis. I chose a sun ray theme with yellow as the dominant color in the color palette to energize the space. The silhouettes amongst the layers of the painting are digital and geometric figures performing a wealth of facilities related jobs. The flat mark making style and the layering creates a design-like space in the painting. The mural includes a quote by JFK summarizing the humanity and necessity of the labor which our country has been built by, and Facilities at PSU is a microcosm of that: ‘The labor movement is people. Our unions have brought millions of men and women together, made them members of one another, and given them common tools for common goals. Their goals are goals for all America—and their enemies are the enemies for progress. The two cannot be separated.’ In the center of the mural there is a large head with gears. This part of the concept is an ode to the complexities that challenge productivity of systems. It represents humanity’s necessity to be part of a productive society.”
About the artist
PSU alumnus Amanda Wilson was in the final year of her MFA when she created PSU Facilities. See more of Wilson's artwork on her website.
Banner image: Photo by Josh Gates.