Ali Al Hammashi is a professional artist who worked at the Ministry of Art in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2001, he fled his home country to Jordan after being asked to “fix” a painting for Saddam Hussein. When Hussein’s security force arrived at his house to discuss the issue Hammashi decided it was time to leave. After 8 years in Jordan he had the opportunity to come to the United States through a U.N. lottery.

This Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m., he will open his very first U.S. exhibition at the Salt Lake Library on Foothill. Yesterday he told me, “I would never have been able to paint these stories in Iraq.” I’m planning on going to the opening and if anyone else has a moment to show up it would mean a good deal to him.