Award-Winning Artist Jan Oliver Pays Homage to Steelworkers in Own Your Own Show at Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center

Pueblo, CO (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- Among the works displayed this year in the annual Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center "Own Your Own Show" are three new works by award winning artist Jan Oliver. These new works pay homage to the steelworkers of Pueblo, Colorado, and around the world. These bold and contemporary works each portray the life of a steelworker from the "family" point of view -- emphasizing how all members of the family are affected by working at a mill.

"I live in a mill town and recently one of my collectors (the son of a steelworker) asked if I might do some paintings about the mill. Although I've driven past the mill a thousand times, listened to folks talk about how it shaped their lives and I have admired the hard working men and women that have toiled there; I had never, until then, thought about how I might say what is in my heart about the mill, about working people, about their struggle. My uncle Glen, now passed, was a Steelworker for Armco in Texas in the 80s and was laid off after several years of work. After that, without a job and ability to support his family, a tragedy of events befell his entire family/our family. I know many of the families in Pueblo suffered greatly during that time as well, and so I bring that compassion for their suffering to these works. I now have a series of 8 paintings planned. The pieces in this show are the first 3 of the 8," said artist Jan Oliver.

The three new works include: "Mill Town" a vibrant contemporary landscape featuring the Pueblo steel mill surrounded by its myriad of neighborhoods and churches, "Off to the Mill" depicting the loving embrace of husband and wife as he departs each morning to work in the mill, and "Wearin' Daddy's Hard Hat" which tugs at the viewers' heartstrings with memories of how children try on their father's shoes.

Accompanying these pieces, seven other new paintings ranging from Jan's award winning southwestern landscapes to her traditional Mexican folk-art influenced religious retablos will be shown. "The collection I am presenting at this year is diverse, but all of the paintings share the same common threads: faith, family and love," said the artist.

The Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center "Own Your Own" show opens November 15th from 5-8 p.m. and runs through January 6th, 2007. For a preview of works included in the show, visit the artist's web site at www.janoliver.com. Inquiries regarding purchase of works can be directed to the Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center at 719-295-7200.

Media Contact:
Jan Oliver
719-543-1514
web site: www.janoliver.com

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