Howard E. Woodin Environmental Studies Colloquium Series

“Empire of My Fireflies” by Ibiyinka Olufemi Alao, First-Place Winner of the United Nations International Art Competition and Nigeria’s Arts Ambassador to the United Nations and United States.

Fireflies are Bioluminescent creatures that bring beauty to everyone wherever they are found in the world. The cold pure light they produce has no carbon emissions and can help revolutionize human relationship with the environment. As an artist, my work is colored by their glow and characteristics of other living beings. I have made a painting, book, movie and musical theater inspired by a certain childhood encounter with “Orumna.” My hope is that as I share this story, it may open our hearts so that we may embrace the true meaning of love.

Ibiyinka Olufemi Alao is a Nigerian/American artist, architect, writer, film director and musical theater composer. He has focused his career on the fluidity of all art forms in storytelling, using painting as an act of frozen music and self-expression. Along with John Lennon, and 3 other artists, he is noted among 5 Artists who have Spread Messages of Peace Around the World by Global Citizen. He was named Nigeria’s “Ambassador of Art” by The President and Commander in Chief of The Armed Forces. Alao won first place in the United Nations International Art Contest involving participants from 61 countries. On May 18, 2016, Ibi’s Fireflies, a story book based on one of his paintings “Eternity in our Hearts” won the Grand Prize of the 2016/2017 Scholastic “Kids are Authors” contest. It won the 1st place out of over 900 entries from schools in the United States.

Co-sponsored by the Climate Action Capacity Project, Environmental Affairs, and the Biology Department.