MAYVILLE – Chautauqua Tapestry and Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. have partnered to create some visually stunning artwork for the Department of Health and Human Services Building in downtown Jamestown.

The project came about after a request from DHHS Commissioner Christine Schuyler to brighten up the walls of the Jamestown offices. She felt the building needed to be more inviting and visually inspiring than it had been.

“People come to us for help in times of need and we strive to empower and engage them,” said Schuyler. “I was looking for a way to make our Health and Human Services offices more welcoming and connected to the community and through Tapestry and the Infinity Arts Program, we have been able to do that. The beautiful and inspiring artwork created by these amazing youth for our offices represents their passion and creativity and how positively our youth can contribute to making our county a better place.”

Schuyler pitched the idea to Chautauqua Tapestry Youth Engagement Specialist Victoria Patti because of her work with local youth and youth groups. She immediately recruited the help of Tara Eastman, pastoral intern/director of youth and family at Lutheran Church, and Shane Hawkins, executive director of Infinity. Tara and Shane worked together to coordinate the project with Infinity’s INSTILL group.

The Infinity students who worked on the mural project were Hayley Restivo (who coordinated the actual painting process and student participation), Madison DeLong, Alec Hawkins, Xavier Sommerville, Deston Guyot, McKenzie Guynn, Erin Fransen, Vivienne White, Brianna Pattison, Taylor Guynn, McKenzie Guynn, Ryan Hawkins, Sophie White, Rylan Wagner, Shane Gabriel, Siri Dubois and Lily Uebbing.