By Associated Press - Saturday, May 23, 2015

WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) - More than two dozen paintings that depict life and landscape during different seasons in the heart of North Dakota’s oil boom will be showcased for the first time next month.

The paintings by Minneapolis artist Joe Burns document the changes brought by the modern-day gold rush for the newly available riches of northwest North Dakota.

The 25 oils will be displayed for the first time starting June 2 at James Memorial Art Center in Williston.

The largest is a more than 6-foot-wide canvas showing an oil-hauling train crossing a vast prairie under a blue sky. Another painting captures oilfield workers operating machinery.

Burns says he tried to capture the flood of humanity that has poured into the region without a political or environmental point of view.

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