In a time where jobs and the economy are the focus of national concern and debate, one sector that employs more than 12,000 Rhode Islanders is all too often overlooked – the arts.

“We have a unique strength that we should be building upon,” says Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts.

Lt. Gov. Roberts was at the seventh annual Paul V. Sherlock Memorial Art Show at the Atrium Gallery of the William Powers Administration building across from the State House yesterday.

The show, which runs through the end of March, spotlights the artistic talents of adult Rhode Islanders with a wide range of physical, cognitive and mental health disabilities.

“One of the points (of the display) is to show people that artists with disabilities are not just one idea, we want to show that the life experiences in our art is as varied as others,” said Jeannine L. Chartier, executive and artistic director for VSA arts of RI.

VSA arts of RI (Vision, Strength, Access) is a statewide, nonprofit arts-in-education organization that provides high quality programs and opportunities through which children and adults with disabilities actively participate in a wide variety of visual, literary and performing arts.

“The work here represents artists that live statewide, from Woonsocket to Westerly, from the West Bay to the East,” said Chartier.

One artist, Charles Pollock, has been showcasing his work at the show since 2005 and is thankful for the opportunity to have the level of exposure that comes with the show.

“I saw an advertisement that they were looking for art and wanted local stuff, I ended up selling six pieces to the state,” said Pollock.

In 1998 a car in South County hit Pollock when he stopped to give directions to a motorist trying to get back to New Jersey. Pollock suffered two skull fractures and has had 16 operations since his accident. Pollock owned a small engineering design firm before the accident and had run 14 marathons.

“Painting has been a really good therapy for me, it gives me something to focus on,” said Pollock.

Pollock now teaches art to children and adults with disabilities at Sargent Rehabilitation Center and at a home in Charlestown.

“It gives me a pleasure to do what I do and to teach,” said Pollock.

The Lt. Governor was at the show as a part of her statewide ‘Arts and Culture Buy Local RI’ tour. The tour is highlighting arts and culture businesses that create direct economic growth, jobs and new entrepreneurial ventures.

“When we talk about buying local products we are talking about arts and culture too,” said Lt. Gov. Roberts.

The Lt. Governor is hoping to prevent the current proposed budget cuts to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA). The state has received some federal stimulus money for arts related projects, but the Lt. Governor feels that taking away the added state funding will severely damage the local artistic community.

“The money goes right to working artists in the community and we’ll lose that if we cut those funds,” Roberts.

The art show, which honors Paul Sherlock, features 100 artists and more than 125 different works. Sherlock was a teacher, Warwick legislator and director of special education who was a committed advocate for people with disabilities. His dedication to people with disabilities transformed Rhode Island into becoming a place where exhibits such as this and the unseen work that takes place to assist the artist’s creative process are possible, according to Chartier.

“There are several people in the state with disabilities and they need their work showcased, they are less visible and this is a great showcase for their work and a revenue source for them as well,” said Randall Rosenbaum, executive director of RISCA.

The exhibit will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Atrium Gallery, William Powers Administration Building, 1 Capitol Hill. The show will end on March 30.