By Brittney De Jaco

The Ruth Hunt Wood Foundation program is celebrating its 10th and final anniversary with the opening of the solo exhibit of this year’s artist, Allan Githuka.

The Kenya Artist-in-Residence Program brings artists from Kenya to UK for the fall semester.

While here, artists study in the UK art department, spend a week at Somerset Community College holding workshops, give lectures for students and produce pieces to be shown in a solo show at the end of the semester.

Ruth Hunt Wood founded the program in 2000 and brought the first artist here in 2001 for UK’s fall semester.

“I had been to Kenya in search of original artwork and had a difficult time,” Wood said. “So I decided to put a spotlight on the unique artists of Kenya and their country.”

Wood explained that it was a long and difficult process to bring these artists to Kentucky.

“The process begins in the spring, and the artists who apply send photographs of their work and a letter of intent,” Wood said.

The information is then sent to a pre-selection committee, which creates a short list, and takes place in Nairobi. Wood participates in that, and then the committee interviews the artists and votes.

“I’m looking for not just great talent, but someone to represent their country and be like an ambassador. There are many ingredients that are considered in the selection process,” Wood said.

Allan Githuka, this year’s artist, has enjoyed his time at UK and hopes he can bring his inspiration back home.

“I feel so privileged with the publicity I have gotten,” Githuka said, “and the many artists I’ve worked with have been so supportive. Hopefully, I will go home with something to benefit the artists in my community.”

Githuka said he has seen things in Lexington that will continue to inspire his pieces.

“I was at Commonwealth Stadium; I created a painting that depicted a lot of people wearing blue, so that was the main color,” he said. “And the trees. The trees are beautiful with their different colors and I will welcome them in my future paintings.”

Wood explained that this would be the final year that the foundation would bring artists from Kenya, but there is a possibility of a switch to another country if the program is to continue.

“I’ve been talking to some friends of mine about another country, but it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work because you are working on two continents with two embassies,” she said.

It took Wood two years to set up the program, she said.

“Perhaps in the future, my foundation and UK can collaborate on another country, but it’s just in the talking phase right now,” Wood said.

Benjamin Withers, the art department’s chair, hopes the foundation can continue.

“It has provided an opportunity for our students to see how someone of a different culture approaches art,” Withers said. “It has been a delight working with Ruth over these past 10 years. We would look forward to continuing that relationship.”

Regardless of the future, Wood said the program has given both the artists and the university an opportunity to learn from one another.

“Cultural exchange is critical to artists. They see someone come from 8,000 miles away and produce enough for a solo show in one semester. It’s very impressive to see their work ethic,” Wood said. “It’s been very rewarding to see the artists come here and develop their talent and take it to the next level.”

Allan Githuka’s work can be seen on display from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at a free exhibit in the Tuska Gallery, located inside the Fine Arts Building.