Dr. Lewis Obi: Guest Speaker for English Speaking Union

On Sunday, February 8, 2010, Dr. Lewis Obi was the guest speaker at the English Speaking Union which convened at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida. Although Dr. Obiʼs talk was centered around American Modernist Manierre Dawson, he shared his serendipitous journey into how the fusion of art and medicine has fulfilled his life. “Profession: patron of the arts...Career: plastic surgeon” was the basis of his presentation to a culturally elite audience. In addition to Dr. Obiʼs active involvement with Manierre Dawson during the past 30 years, Obi shared his role as patron, biographer and publisher of British artist Daniel Samuels. As a result of this work Dr. Obi was inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Art, London in 1985. Thus Dr. Obiʼs titles of M.D. and FRSA reflects his dual passion and dedication to medicine and art.

The English-Speaking Union is an international charity founded in 1918 to promote "international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language." One of last year's speaker was British author Flora Fraser, step daughter of 2005 Nobel Laureate in Literature Harold Pinter. One of the next speakers will be congresswoman Patricia Schroeder. At the end of World War I, Winston Churchill was instrumental in the formation of the union. Ironically, Lord Charles Churchill (Winston Churchill’s great nephew) accompanied Dr. Obi to the 1985 New York City premier of Daniel Samuels work. The international art firm of Obiarts, Inc. was founded by Dr. Obi as a means of sponsoring artists such as Daniel Samuels FRSA.