Page 15 - Work Force June 2021

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CANTON — Christina Adams, a support investigator at the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services for 15 years, has always been an artistic and creative person at heart.
However, her job is to testify in cases, so there’s usually not much room for creativity
on the job.
choose a project that encompassed everything she’s been learning.
“I chose to paint these murals for the visitation units. I thought these paintings would brighten it up a little for them,” Adams said. “I chose to do some friendly cartoon creatures.
Adams, who is
“I think it’s important for people to understand that art is important... just the simple process [of my paintings] can change an environment and change how people feel about being here.”
They’re inviting, non-threatening and [in] bright colors to just
attract their attention when they come in.”
On her days off, you can find
Adams working on her various
murals throughout the halls of the building. She’s
Christina Adams paints the halls of the St. Lawrence County DSS building as a part of earning her graphic design degree. She decided to paint friendly murals for the children who visit the building.
working on
earning her
graphic
design
degree at
SUNY Canton,
noticed that
kids would
look a little
scared
walking
through the
halls of the Department of Social Services building during visits.
put more than 100 hours of her own time into her project and is doing it all on
her own dime.
“My goal is to do enough paintings
on each floor at all the places children would come in, so they’re greeted, no matter how they enter the building, with some friendly and welcoming art,” Adams said.
Christina Adams, who has always been artistic and creative, paints a mural on the walls of the St. Lawrence County DSS building during time off from work.
The amazing impact of art
The reception to Adams’ paintings has been nothing but positive from co-workers and families that visit the building.
“Parents will bring kids out to check out all the paintings, so it gives them a fun activity to do,” Adams said. “There was just a
father in here that was teaching his daughter how frogs were amphibians and how turtles were reptiles.”
Her co-workers enjoy it, too.
“Working here, I understand, can sometimes be kind of drab,” Adams said. “Some people have said it really brightens up their day. Sometimes people just come out and watch me paint.”Adams said that sometimes people can take art for granted.
“I think it’s important for people to understand that art is important,” Adams said. “When you’re in a
place that’s not creative or artistic, you feel like you don’t need art for anything. But just the simple process [of my paintings] can change an environment and change how people feel about being here.”
— Nicholas Newcomb
“The place is a little overwhelming and institutional looking,” Adams said.
As part of her college design program, Adams was able to
June 2021
The Work Force 15
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