U Gallery Awakens

U Gallery hosted its coming out party Friday night, introducing the hundreds who filtered in and out of its Broad Street storefront to its message and cause with its first public art show "Awakenings."

The is an extension of Universal Rehabilitation Institute, which provides services to adults with traumatic brain injuries, or TBI, Robert Langdon, gallery coordinator and curator, said during the reception. The gallery and boutique provides a vocational training program with the goal of introducing those with brain injuries back into the workforce and community.

The gallery sells handcrafted jewelery and dedicates 20 percent of its wall space to the art work of those with TBI.

Awakenings is a mixed-medium art show featuring established and emerging artists.

Awakenings is the first of what will become an monthly occurrence at U Gallery, Langdon said. After more than a year of operation, the gallery will host receptions and new shows each month. Langdon said there are also plans to host a gallery walk through Red Bank this May.

Check out the gallery above for some of the art and sites from Friday's reception.