These past two weeks I’ve spent a lot of time reading up and researching for a major project I’ve been dreaming about for years. None of that is meant for this medium however 
But I did read some interesting stuff that I can share…
1. Jan Vermeer – The Man Who Found a Way To Paint Light
The artist who found a way to do what other artists in his time, and up till this day, have not been able to do: He developed a technique called “pointillé”, for painting natural light.
Visit http://www.janvermeer.org/ to learn more about his paintings, life etc.
It was while listening to Burt Dubin in a SpeakerMatch radio show issue I transcribed that I first learnt about Jan Vermeer.
The theme for that SpeakerMatch show’s issue was “What They Don’t Teach You In Speaking Business School”.
To get the full PDF transcript I’ve created, with pictures and time stamps use the contact form or email me via tayo at tksola dot com.
NB: Vermeer’s technique sounds similar in name to (but is different from) pointillism, which is a technique developed by George Surat (if I recall correctly) and which involves using a series of tiny dots to create artworks. It so happens that I once promoted the creations of a Lagos based artist – Eze – who specializes in using Pointillism.
Apart from putting up a mini arts gallery/website (click to view it) on my web hosting space to showcase his pieces, I also built an online store with Cafepress.com (click to view it) offering over 50 different gift items branded with images from one of his works.
2. Sunday Evening With Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) – By Nana
I’m really excited to see the concerted efforts being made by Ghana Association of Writers to promote interest in reading and writing as a vocation among youths and adults alike.
Nana’s report on her “Sunday Evening With Ghana Association of Writers (GAW)” caught my interest when I stumbled on it. Click here to read it.
When I was done with the comments, I Google for more details about GAW and discovered that they have partnered with the nation’s Ministry of Education to re-launch the “GAW School Outreach Programme”(GWASOP) – to promote the twin habits of reading and writing among students nationwide
Click here to learn more about GWASOP.
The GAW impresses me because they are so active, and involved in infuencing positive developments in different. For instance, they also contribute to the Ghana International Book Fair.
It would be great to see more associations across Africa operate the same way.
3. Toyin Aluko’s Lagos State Handball Association distributes handball equipment to 15 schools
I played competitive handball
up to state level from the age of 12 (1982) till I left the university in ’92 (I captained the University’s team to the last NUGA prelims that held before I graduated). After leaving the university, I tried to stay in touch with the game. While working as a manager in Guinness I periodically trained with the Edo State Handball team. Since relocating to Lagos after becoming self employed, however, I’ve not been able to find players training at the stadium which I’ve visited with my kids. I’m especially keen to introduce the sport properly to them. The level of discipline and physical fitness required to play competitive handball is great – so much so that people in other sports are often in awe of the physical stamina handballers display. Apart from priviledges like free university accommodation etc, playing handball helped me develop qualities that have proved useful to me in my studies and also as an entrepreneur e.g persistence, resilience, fighting spirit, mental stamina, determination, endurance etc. I want my kids to get those benefits too. And that’s why I am so excited by what the Lagos State Handball Association’s Toyin Aluko who runs the association(she’s played the game at international level, and now holds a PhD in Sports Administration). The association recently donated equipment and kits to 15 schools as part of a big plan to revive the sport in the state.
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