Art and Advocacy: GAP! Student Mural

During the month of April, Community Safety Network (CSN) partnered with Jackson Hole Public Art, GAP! (Girls Actively Participating), and Jackson Hole Middle School art teacher Shannon Hart to paint a mural that will be displayed on the bike path tunnel near Smith’s.

The initial idea was to paint a mural with the GAP! girls in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness month, focused on girls’ empowerment and what makes them feel strong and happy. Pointing to their inspirational stickers covering their water bottles, Ms. Hart guided the girls in filling the mural with blown-up versions of their stickers: from “I am always enough” to the JHMR tram to smiling ducklings and sushi pieces.

CSN advocates helped with the mural painting, in what ended up being a fun — perhaps a little messy, but definitely soothing — painting project! Watch the mural making in action.

GAP! and CSN have joyfully been supporting each other’s work for many years. As Elly Garrett, GAP!’s Executive Director, says: “Girl’s self-esteem plummets in middle school” — leading to not just crises of self-esteem, but eating disorders, anxiety, depression, making young women much more likely to experience sexual harassment and dating violence.

In sessions with GAP!’s middle school girls, CSN discusses boundaries, healthy relationships, dating violence, and assertive communication. CSN loves working together with GAP! to foster leadership, confidence, and strength in our girls, and this mural is a beautiful representation of our hopeful, fun, and synergistic work.

Plaque Text

Step Into a Tunnel of Power, Play, and Possibility

This vibrant 80-foot mural was created by the JHMS GAP! Girls in collaboration with the Community Safety Network. Inspired by the magic of stickers, bold words, and bright icons, each piece you see was hand-drawn to express what’s possible when girls feel safe, seen, and supported. From lightning bolts of confidence to hearts filled with hope, from fierce phrases to playful doodles—this tunnel is more than art. It’s a mirror of what happens when young people are given the space to be fully themselves. As you ride or walk through, we invite you to slow down. Soak in the messages. Let them remind you of your own younger self—full of wonder, questions, strength, and dreams. Here, in this tunnel, their voices shine. And we hope they spark something in you, too.

Jackson Hole Middle School GAP! Students:

Addy Vorel
Anabell Rosales
Chloe Mower
Ella Snider
Ellie Hunt
Elsie Ligori
Freya Manning
Georgia Carter
Greta Ramsey
Heika Loudenslager
Ingrid Huser
Iris Bruner
Jasmine Gute
Kamila Kelley
Lena Estay
Sandra Reed
Taylor Pitman
Victoria Pitman
Tegan Lovestad
Valentina Oldani
Wesley Schon