“Made in Olean,” an exhibition of photographs by Colleen Kelly, opens in the Center Gallery on JCC’s Cattaraugus County Campus in Olean on November 9 with a reception from 6-8 p.m.
The exhibition, which runs through December 13, is a documentary photography project by Kelly, an Olean-based artist. Viewers are taken behind the scenes of area industries, businesses, and institutions such as Cutco, Ka-Bar, Cuba Cheese Shoppe, City of Olean, Four Mile Brewing, and JCC.
“Made in Olean” is a joint project facilitated by JCC and Tri-County Arts Council with support from the JCC Faculty Student Association.
According to Patricia Briggs, director of JCC’s art galleries, the initial idea for “Made in Olean” grew out of a 2016 exhibition, “Made in China,” presented at the Weeks Gallery on JCC’s Jamestown Campus. The exhibition featured photographs of Chinese factory workers taken by Zhan Youbing as well as images of area workers employed at Bluestem Distribution Center in Irvine, PA by Warren-based photographer Monika Garami.
“Photographs showing workers in their workplaces helps us to see the people and the businesses that make the economy thrive,” Briggs says.
The Tri-County Arts Council and JCC decided to seek a photographer to shoot a documentary project showing workers on the job in and near Olean. When Briggs approached Kelly about the project last fall, Kelly “jumped at the opportunity.”
“I was immediately attracted to the prospect of photographing workers in the Olean area because, quite simply, this area is special to me,” Kelly says. “I was born and raised in Olean, moved away for almost 10 years, and was met with the challenge and privilege of doing this project about the time I returned in the summer of 2017. I couldn't wait to channel my creative energy into the place and the people that helped make me the person I am today.”
Kelly hopes the photographs will foster community, breed pride, and enlighten viewers.
“By presenting the people behind the products and services,” Kelly says, “I hope viewers are able to dive deeper into understanding and appreciating all that these facilities bring to our community.”
The Center Gallery is located on the second floor of JCC’s College Center. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.
For more information, contact Briggs at 716.338.1301 or patriciabriggs@mail.sunyjcc.edu.