Underneath a passage of one of the oldest and most frequented buildings on Penn State's main campus, a mysterious work of art awaits those with enough knowledge and free time to find it.
Under the front lawn of the Willard Building there is a maintenance tunnel that leads to a janitor's storage space. As one might expect, there is an electrical transformer box and a large heating system vent down there, with a couple of window sills and wells from old and mostly disused classrooms. A metal grate covers overs the top of the passage. However, there is more to see here.
Running the entire length and height of the alcove's outward wall (approximately 20 feet by 8 feet), a long mural has been painted. It is unknown when or by whom this painting was made, but this strangely beautiful mural exists nevertheless. The mural's orange, viridian, and, blue hues are strongly reminiscent of those of southwestern Native American art (the Pueblo and Navajo, mainly), while its vegetative banners and simplistic stars call to mind another mysterious artifact: the Voynich Manuscript.
There isn't any artist's signature or dedication date on this painting; the only part which bears any writing is one panel approximately in the centre of the wall. Underneath an eight-fold leaf pattern with a differently coloured circle at the cardinal points, this key is written:
To The West — INTROSPECTION
To The North — WISDOM
To The East — ILLUMINATION
To The South — INNOCENCE And TRUTH
Once again, the meaning of this inscription, beyond interpreting or expounding upon the design, is unknown. Some speculate this is either guerrilla art or the remnant of a mural project by a painting class. Whatever the case, this artwork is worth seeing if you have a few minutes and aren't afraid of a bit of litter.