While rallies and protests surrounding workers’ rights were taking place at the Capitol, community members gathered Friday at the James Watrous Gallery in the Overture Center for the opening of a photography exhibit highlighting Wisconsin’s labor and workforce.

Two years ago, the Wisconsin Arts Board commissioned the “Wisconsin Labor: A Contemporary Portrait” gallery to show the “diversity of labor” in Wisconsin. Despite the recent protests, the planners did not intend for the unveiling to overlap with the week’s events.

Former Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, currently the chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, said the overlap was a unique case of foresight.

The project contains photographs reflecting the diversity of Wisconsin’s workforce, ranging from heavy industry to agriculture and small business.

“The Wisconsin Academy applies the sciences, arts and letters to bring context, civilized discussion and meaningful action to the most important issues of today,” said Margaret Lewis, executive director of the Wisconsin Academy.

The Wisconsin Academy aims to create exhibits where citizens can join, discuss and suggest solutions for the challenges of our time in the hope of creating a better Wisconsin, Lewis said.

The project was originally developed at the request of Roberta Gassman, former Workforce Development Secretary. She said she wanted to inspire people through the skills of Wisconsin workers in both public and private sectors.

“This exhibit helps tell the story of the importance of labor and workers in our state and highlights the skill, breadth and depth of the remarkable skills of the Wisconsin workforce,” Gassman said.

Percent for Art Coordinator Chris Manke said the photographs are also displayed at the Department of Workforce Development and in the Wisconsin historical archives.

“It has been a privilege for the Arts Board to participate in this project – it came at such an incredible time,” said Lawton, who spent much of her time as lieutenant governor under Jim Doyle advocating for the arts. “The role of art is to help us lift the intellectual covers that often mask topics with complexity and this project is a great example of lifting that barrier.”

The exhibit will be displayed in the James Watrous Gallery of the Overture Center for the Arts until April 10. Several related events that are free and open to the public, including presentations by some of the artists, will be scheduled in the coming weeks.