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about a year ago

Muralist Plans to Add JayPa, Harris, and Knight

Michael Pilato

Michael Pilato has been busy lately. Pilato is a local artist and creator of the mural on Heister Street that features hundreds of caricatures from Penn State’s long history. The mural that he calls “Inspiration” has seen a couple modifications since November, and may be seeing a few more in the coming months.

On November 9th, Pilato removed Jerry Sandusky from his mural and painted a simple blue ribbon in his place in response to the sexual abuse allegations.  One of the primary factors that went into that decision was the relationship with his daughter, now 16, who was sexually abused when she was 12.

“The victims in the community, if the alleged crimes are true, shouldn’t have to look at [Jerry Sandusky] up there,” Pilato said.

Last week, the mural was slightly modified again. This time, a halo was added by Pilato above the head of the late Joe Paterno. However, the halo is not just a special feature for Paterno; every member on the mural that is deceased receives a halo.

But the muralist from State College is not done yet. He plans to add  Nike chairman Phil Knight, former coach Jay Paterno, and the always-outspoken Franco Harris to his 100-foot-long mural.

“Phil Knight said what we’ve all been thinking. It’s just awesome that he said it as someone who is outside of the Penn State community. I felt really good when he said it, that’s for sure,” Pilato elaborated.

He also applauds Jay Paterno’s composure given the recent events. “He’s been like a brother to all of us.”

He would like to include those three people in a new section on the mural, along with Joe and Sue Paterno.

“I painted Joe up there about thirteen years ago. I’ve done about 600 more portraits since then. I’m a lot better now and I’d like to do a better painting of Joe Paterno on that mural,” Pilato explained

The 43-year old Pilato did not provide a definitive timetable in regards to the planned additions, but he hopes to paint them sometime in the spring.

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  • Bill Levinson (B.S. ’78)

    Room can be made on this mural by removing any of the current Trustees or Emeritus Trustees, so the Penn State community doesn’t have to look at them either.

  • captain alumni

    hey i said some nice things about penn state once, can i be added to the mural?

  • Evan Ponter

    Phil Knight! That’s my boy. He got really rich outsourcing labor to sweatshops, right?

  • Josh Korn

    I have been thinking the same thing! How can he say that being fired over the phone is not the way to treat an employee when his work in the worst conditions in the world.

  • guest

    pretty insensitive to be casually mentioning milato’s daughter’s sexual abuse..

  • rational

    Knight….. just for an off the cuff, low blow, disrespectful ill-timed comment????? A snide remark should NOT put you with the likes of Penn State Legends.

    Ill give you JayPa without arguement…

    But Franco Harris, hes nothing but a loud mouth who enjoyed his spotlight and NOT someone I would ever want representing me as a Penn Stater.

    Oh and just a side not, the Trustees arent the Devil!!!!!!!!

  • rational

    So anything good that they have ever done can just go along with them right? Yes, they made a bad call but dont tar and feather them

  • Michael Pilato

    <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
    My daughter has spoken out about her trauma and is proud to be a survivor and to help other children facing abuse. This makes me a very proud dad. Otherwise you are correct it would be inappropriate. Onward state is aware of her speeches to the PSU and State college community. The new scene I am painting is a time in our history I would like to preserve for the local and PSU community. The work I do on this mural is for no pay so it takes time, but eventually I would like to add all the greats who spoke at the memorial to be on this new section. The artist I work with and myself have and continue working on projects that will help our local community on the education of abuse prevention.  I have taken the good road and the bad road in my life, I am working hard to be the best I can be for my girl and to show her the power of forgiveness. There are many lessons that we all can take from every thing that has happened over the last few months a big one for me is forgiveness and looking at my own actions and how they affect others. I will not be posting any more replies on this article. Thank you for your concern about my girl, Peace. Michael Pilato

  • Johnny

    It was great for Knight to stand behind his buddy and hero. But to me, he was just a billionare with nothing to lose preaching to a choir he knew would applaud. I don’t know 90 percent of the people on the mural, but it doesn’t seem like Knight belongs.

  • Common Sense

    I just gave a speech telling the BOT to fuck themselves – can I get on the mural too

  • Michael Pilato

    <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
    My daughter has spoken out about her trauma and is proud to be a survivor and to help other children facing abuse. This makes me a very proud dad. Otherwise you are correct it would be inappropriate. Onward state is aware of her speeches to the PSU and State college community. The new scene I am painting is a time in our history I would like to preserve for the local and PSU community. The work I do on this mural is for no pay so it takes time, but eventually I would like to add all the greats who spoke at the memorial to be on this new section. The artist I work with and myself have and continue working on projects that will help our local community on the education of abuse prevention.  I have taken the good road and the bad road in my life, I am working hard to be the best I can be for my girl and to show her the power of forgiveness. There are many lessons that we all can take from every thing that has happened over the last few months a big one for me is forgiveness and looking at my own actions and how they affect others. I will not be posting any more replies on this article. Thank you for your concern about my girl, Peace. Michael Pilato

  • Michael Pilato

    <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
    My daughter has spoken out about her trauma and is proud to be a survivor and to help other children facing abuse. This makes me a very proud dad. Otherwise you are correct it would be inappropriate. Onward state is aware of her speeches to the PSU and State college community. The new scene I am painting is a time in our history I would like to preserve for the local and PSU community. The work I do on this mural is for no pay so it takes time, but eventually I would like to add all the greats who spoke at the memorial to be on this new section. The artist I work with and myself have and continue working on projects that will help our local community on the education of abuse prevention.  I have taken the good road and the bad road in my life, I am working hard to be the best I can be for my girl and to show her the power of forgiveness. There are many lessons that we all can take from every thing that has happened over the last few months a big one for me is forgiveness and looking at my own actions and how they affect others. I will not be posting any more replies on this article. Thank you for your concern about my girl, Peace. Michael Pilato

  • Michael Pilato

    <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Palatino; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
    My daughter has spoken out about her trauma and is proud to be a survivor and to help other children facing abuse. This makes me a very proud dad. Otherwise you are correct it would be inappropriate. Onward state is aware of her speeches to the PSU and State college community. The new scene I am painting is a time in our history I would like to preserve for the local and PSU community. The work I do on this mural is for no pay so it takes time, but eventually I would like to add all the greats who spoke at the memorial to be on this new section. The artist I work with and myself have and continue working on projects that will help our local community on the education of abuse prevention.  I have taken the good road and the bad road in my life, I am working hard to be the best I can be for my girl and to show her the power of forgiveness. There are many lessons that we all can take from every thing that has happened over the last few months a big one for me is forgiveness and looking at my own actions and how they affect others. I will not be posting any more replies on this article. Thank you for your concern about my girl, Peace. Michael Pilato

  • Tom Macaluso

    I believe stating the Board of Trustees simply made a “bad call” is immensely understating the severity of their decision making.

  • rational is a dick

    fuck you rational. Franco Harris is a saint.

  • mpc

    people need to get over their joe obsession. i loved him as much as anyone else, but some people seem more than willing to use scorched earth tactics to exact revenge on whomever they see fit.

  • Michael Pilato

    My daughter has spoken out about her trauma and is proud to be a survivor and to help other children facing abuse. This makes me a very proud dad. Otherwise you are correct it would be inappropriate. Onward state is aware of her speeches to the PSU and State college community. The new scene I am painting is a time in our history I would like to preserve for the local and PSU community. The work I do on this mural is for no pay so it takes time, but eventually I would like to add all the greats who spoke at the memorial to be on this new section. The artist I work with and myself have and continue working on projects that will help our local community on the education of abuse prevention. I have taken the good road and the bad road in my life, I am working hard to be the best I can be for my girl and to show her the power of forgiveness. There are many lessons that we all can take from everything that has happened over the last few months; a big one for me is forgiveness and looking at my own actions and how they affect others. I will not be posting any more replies on this article. Thank you for your concern about my girl.