The Arts ambassador for Nigeria, Mr. Ibiyinka Alao, will be visiting the state of Vermont from Saturday the 14th to Monday the 23rd of November 2009.

Alao, in 2001, became the first-place winner of the prestigious United Nations International Art Competition among 61 countries. His paintings are currently in the United States on tour. They have been exhibited at the Indianapolis Art Center, the Martin Luther King Art Center, the Nigerian Consulate and Nigerian Embassy, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Cultures, the New York University Brownstone Salon and the United Nations headquarters. Alao has spoken at universities all over the United States including New York University, Harvard Business School, and Florida State University. His presentation focuses on contemporary African life and how that translates into his artwork. Alao’s work celebrates diversity and he speaks about
achieving peace through creativity and expression. His presentation combines a display of his art with lecture and question and answer.

His partial itinerary is as follows:
• Saturday Nov.14th: Arrive in Vermont
• Sunday Nov. 15th: Speak at the Congregational Church in Stowe, Visit The Art Gallery in Stowe.
• Monday Nov. 16th: Lecture at Burlington High School
• Tuesday Nov. 17th: Lecture/workshop at Central Vermont Academy, Barre, VT and Pacem learning Community, Montpelier, VT
• Wednesday Nov. 18th: Lecture/Workshop at Johnson Elementary School (AM) and Vermont Studio Center (PM), Johnson, VT
• Thursday Nov.19th: Lecture/Workshop at Orchard Valley Waldorf School, East Montpelier,VT
• Friday Nov. 20th: Lecture/Workshop at Stowe Elementary School and Stowe Middle School.
• Saturday Nov. 21st: Reception with African community in Vermont.
• Sunday Nov. 22nd: To be determined
• Monday Nov. 23rd: Exhibit/Reception “One Night of Grace” at The Art Gallery in Stowe(PM)
• Tuesday Nov. 24th:Depart Stowe(AM)

 More about Mr. Ibiyinka Alao at www.ibiyinka.com