Community Calendar for Franklin County

(Columbus, OH)  - The art exhibition "Where It Began: Africa" will kick off the 2010 exhibition season of the Urban Cultural Arts Foundation (UCAF). The ten-week exhibition features  original Batik creations by Nigeria’s Bintu Onaly and paintings by Italy’s Gary Jo Gardenhire. The opening reception occurs on Sunday, February 21, 2010, at UCAF's William H. Thomas Gallery (1270 Bryden Rd, Columbus, OH, 43205) from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and includes live performances and authentic Caribbean cuisine by Red Snapper Restaurant. Onaly is a long-time friend of the William H. Thomas Gallery, having participated in the Foundation’s annual African Village Arts Festivals held in August as well as teaching Batik dyeing techniques during UCAF's summer workshop series. Gardenhire is showing for the first time at the gallery. UCAF's programming is created to be enjoyed by everyone in the community while celebrating cultural and creative diversity.  Admission is free.  Donations are encouraged.  All of the art is for sale; proceeds benefit the artists and the Foundation. Visitors and patrons are invited to attend the opening reception and visit the gallery this month as we reflect on shared African and African-American traditions. For full event details, please visit www.galleryinthehood.org, or call William H. Thomas Gallery at 614-252-7525.