Expression

The Belmont Gallery of Art will host an exhibit of works entitled "Expression" by Yoruba artist Olusegun (Segun) Olorunfemi from October 11 until November 18. An evening opening is scheduled for Friday, October 14th, from 5 until 8pm. The public is cordially invited to attend.

The title piece is a sand painting that will be exhibited as a work in progress, introducing us to the Yoruba greeting "Eka" that is "EKABO or E KU E WU ABO". Asked to translate, Olorunfemi smiles because the greeting has no direct English translation and requires explanation. It expresses a host's honoured delight upon arrival of a visitor whose travels might have exposed them to any number of possible risks and dangers. Also illustrated are the many ways people express themselves.

As a professional artist Olorunfemi is listed in Who Is Who of Nigerian Art. Aside from having served as the artistic coordinator of the Toki Arts Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, he is also recognized in his homeland as a dancer, musician and storyteller.

Commissioned mosaics for public spaces can be found in the Hilton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria; the Mariposa Museum of World Cultures in Peterborough, New Hampshire, to list just a few. His participation in international exhibitions has taken his work as far as Europe.

Olorunfemi as educator has brought his gentle arts to thousands of children in public and alternative schools in the US. These residencies are organized by Very Special Arts New Hampshire. This institutional link between the US and Nigeria exists for the purpose of providing arts enrichment to schools throughout the state. Appointed Executive Director of Very Special Arts Nigeria in 2002, Olorunfemi has conducted workshops in Nigeria and the US since 1998. Most recently with the New Hampshire Institute of Art and NH State Council on the Arts, 2005 Arts in Education Conference: The Creative Journey.

In Yoruba culture artistic discipline can begin very early with observation and encouragement of acute attention to principles as practiced by accomplished artists. Extended exposure to these principles creates a depth of learning that then extends into other areas. Fast becoming known throughout New England as an ambassador at large for a voice celebrating the simple elegance of traditional wisdom, Olorunfemi images inspire recognition of the roots of human dignity.

Traditional Yoruba culture as expressed by Segun Olorunfemi presents a vision of life speaking to the universal nature of our hearts and minds. "Expression" is an apt title considering the wide variety of media, styles and subjects. The works exhibited include batik on rice paper, hand coloured linoleum prints, paintings in oil on paper as well as sand paintings and yarn paintings.

Gallery visitors may preview some earlier work by Olusegun Olorunfemi on his website, www.segunfemi.com

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Resume

Segun Olorunfemi
Birth: August 30, 1957.
Media: Yarn Painting, Sand Painting, Linoleum Block Print on Fabric, Batik on Fabric and Batik on rice-paper, Oil Painting, Graphics

Training

'72-'74

Yinka Adeyemi Art Studio

'74-'75

Oguntimehin Art workshop, Ile-Ife

Profile:

2001

Executive Director VSA arts of Nigeria

Director Timbrel Arts Company, Ibadan

'93-'97

Program Coordinator Very Special Arts Nigeria

'89-'91

Artistic coordinator, Toki Arts Center Ibadan

Solo Exhibitions:

2005

"Ngeria my home land" Mariposa Museum, Peterborough Feb.

2002

"Celebrating the World Culture" Mariposa Museum, Peterborough, NH. 2002

2001

"Images of Yoruba People" NEWMAH Gallery, Bellows Falls, VT.

1999

"African Art" Langer Place, Manchester, NH.

1996

"Exploration" Telfer's African Gallery, Ghana.

1994

"Breeze" French Cultural Center, Lagos.

1992

"One Show" Shiloh Baptist church, Washington DC.

1989

"The Culture" International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan.

"Many Suitors", I. I. T. A. Ibadan.

1981

"Art and the locality" University of Ilorin.

"Coming Out" University of Ilorin Staff Club

Commissions:

2003

"Sand panting" Mr. & Mrs. Vincent, Windham NH.

2002

"Butterfly" (Mosaic Tiles) Mariposa Museum

1991

"Yarn Painting" Mr. Ruthwell, FERODO, Ibadan.

1987

"Mosaic" Lagos Hilton Hotel, Ikeja.

1986

"Adire Tie-Dye Blinds" University of Ilorin Guest House.

1980

"Unification" Vice-Chancellor's Lodge, University of Ilorin (Oil on paper)

Group Exhibition

2005

"The Biennial Juried Exhibition" Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, Keene NH. Jan. 22nd - March 6th.

2003

"The Way Forward" NAFANA, Abuja.

2001

"Popularizing Art within the Community" Alliance Francaise, Ibadan.

2000

"Out of Africa" Thorn-Sagendorph Art Gallery, Keene State College, Keene, NH.

1999

"The Artist and Nation Building" NAFANA, Ibadan.

1996

"Hidden Treasure" Alliance Francaise, Kaduna.

1994

"Third Annual International Arts Exhibition" Very Special Arts, Washington DC.

"International Very Special Arts Festival" Brussels, Belgium.

1989

"Art for Art Sake" Sinsemillia Gallery, Lagos.

"Oriki" Giornata Mondiale Dell'aumentazione F.A.O., Rome.

"Artist of Africa" CUSO, Canada.

"Nigerian Art and French Revolution" French-German Auditorium, Lagos.

"Exhibition for Selection" Alliance Francaise, Ibadan.

1988

"Young Print Makers" USIS, Lagos.

"UHURU" African American Arts Against Apartheid (Newark, NJ.) City Without Walls.

"African Studies Day" I.A.S. University of Ife, Ile-Ife.

1987

"Young Shells" I.I.T.A. Ibadan.

1986

"Culture" Alliance Francaise, Ibadan. 1986

Awards and Honors

2001

Disabled Persons Oyo State, Nigeria.

1989

Bronze Medal,”Gloriana Midaiale Dell-aumentazione FAO, Rome.

First Prize Winner "Exhibition for selection" Alliance Fancaise, Ibadan.

Bibliography:
2001, Popularizing Art within the Community, (Exhibition). Illustration page 8.
1993, Who is Who in African Art. Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC. Index # 240, pages 345 - 346
1989, Giornata Mondiale Dell'aumentazione (Exhibition) F.A.O., Rome.
1988, Black Business Owners Magazine, Alabama. Eighth – Edition (Back Cover) Illustration page 2.
1988, UHURU: African and American Arts Against Apartheid Newark, NJ. 12pp.
1988, Young printmakers Lagos. 8pp.

Newspaper Publications:
2005, NH. State & Local Sunday News, May 15th 2005, pg. B1 & B8
2005, The Hooksett Banner, May 5th 2005, pg. A1
2005, Monadnock Ledger, Feb.17th 2005, pg. 23
2005, The Courier, Jan. 26th 2005, front pg & 8.
2002, Hudson-Litchfield News, June 7th, 2002 pg. 11.
2001, Spotlight, The Keene Sentinel, July 19th, 2001 pg 13 & 22.
2001, Rutland Daily Herald S. VT. April 2nd, 2001 pg B1
2001, Monadnock July 19th, 2001 pg 17 & 28.
2000, Monadnock May 25th, 2000 pg 8.
2000, Feb. 16th-27th, 2000, pg 1.
2000, Monadnock Jan. 27th, 2000 front page.
1999, Nigerian Tribune, Nov. 17th, 1999, pg 17
1990, The Point, Jan.-Feb. 5th, 1990, pg. 6
1989, Dec. 29th, 1989 pg. 4.

Artist in residence:
2005, June. NH. Institute of Art, Manchester.
2005, May. Iber H. Gove Middle School, Raymond, NH.
2005, May. Lamprey River Elementary School, Raymond, NH.
2005, May. Henry W. Moore School, Candia, NH.
2005, February. Saxton River Elementary School, VT.
2004, October. Meadowbrook School, West Greenwich, RI.
2003, March. Orchard School, NH, Griffin Memorial School, Litchfield, NH.
2003, March. Mariposa Museum, Peterborough, NH.
2003, March. East Derry Memorial Elementary school, NH.
2001, May. Brentwood School, Merrimack, NH.
2001, May. Spaulding Youth Center, NH.
2000, July. Thorne Sagendorph Art Gallery, KSC.
2000, July. Plymouth State College , NH. 1999, January. Spaulding Youth Center, NH.

Contact:
50, Summit Road, Apt. # 9, Keene, NH. 03431
Phone: 603 352 6535
Cell: 603 499 2010
E-mail: ssegunfemi@yahoo.com