WISDOM + WONDER: AGING ISN’T BLACK + WHITE
McKEESPORT, PA | 2025

JY Originals was commissioned by the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to produce a mural on the Mon Valley Launchbox building owned by Penn State Greater Allegheny.

The artwork was inspired by dialogue with Penn State GA students and local community members. This geometric design welcomes curiosity and interpretation, drawing in the viewer with a bold color palette and playful composition. Within the abstract imagery is the abbreviation for McKeesport "McKP" to anchor the design in a sense of hyper-local pride. The overall color palette inspires the viewer to appreciate how individuals, regardless of age, can live out colorful lives. When people think of "being old," they often associate it with dull colors, like the gray scale incorporated into the piece, and "less youth" with negative connotations. Each rectangular compartment holds its own unique characteristics that are part of the larger story of aging in Allegheny County and the history of McKeesport.

Photos by Janel Young and Bojitt