Asthma Awareness Mural

Asthma Awareness Mural by artist David McShane was located on the side of a Rite Aide store in the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The mural’s design contains six figures representing different aspects of South Philadelphia: a baby: a young skateboarder (there’s a skate park nearby); a young hockey player in a Philadelphia Flyers uniform (there’s an ice skating rink nearby); a high school girl shooting a basketball in a Philadelphia 76ers shirt; a Philadelphia Eagles football player; and a Mummer. Surrounding each figure is a background pattern that represents six triggers of asthma: pets; cold air (snowflake); smoke; dust (dust mites); pollen; and mold. The clearly implied message is that even though a trigger is present, avoidance and medications can help a person stay in control. Each section of the mural has a person engaging in an active lifestyle in spite of their asthma. Hence the overall theme: “Asthma is not going away, but it doesn’t have to get in your way.”

The mural contains the following inscription:

“Asthma is a major health problem in Philadelphia. Triggers of asthma include pets, cold air, smoke, dust mites, pollen, and mold. With avoidance of triggers, and medications, asthma can be controlled.”

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (replaced with new mural in 2016).