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Visionary, astronaut, scientist, physician, engineer, author and motivational speaker Mae Jemison will deliver a keynote address presented by the Chesapeake Forum at the Chesapeake Conference Center, 700 Conference Center Drive in Greenbrier.
The program, the second in the Chesapeake Forum’s inaugural season, will take place at 7 p.m. March 3, beginning with a musical performance by the Western Branch High School Cammerata, followed by Jemison’s speech.
Jemison’s fame can be measured by her presence in popular culture. She’s appeared on an episode of “Star Trek;” is featured in the children’s book, “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History;” and is a figure in the Lego set, “Women of NASA.” She is an inductee into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the International Space Hall of Fame and the National Medical Association Hall of Fame.
“Her background is varied and fascinating,” Rebecca C.W. Adams, Chesapeake Forum charter member and one of its founders, wrote in an email. “As an engineer, physician and astronaut, she continues to do scientific research about the future of the next 100 years.”
In 1992, as a member of the crew on the space shuttle Endeavor, Jemison became the first woman of color to venture into space. She was also NASA’s first science mission specialist, performing experiments in material science, life sciences and human adaptation to weightlessness.
A Los Angeles physician, she was a Peace Corps officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia. She is also a best-selling author and a noted speaker who travels the country advocating health care, education, social responsibility, motivations and STEM (or science, technology, electronics, mathematics) studies for all.
Individual tickets are $50 per person. For tickets or more information, call 757-346-9163 or visit chesapeakeforum.org.
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Sea-arias, organ-ic music
The Chesapeake-based Coastal Virginia Chamber Music (CVCM) will present the musical duo Thalassa in concert at 7 p.m. March 2 at the Great Bridge Methodist Church, 201 Stadium Drive.
The twosome — with Wayla Chambo on flute and Todd Holcombe on guitar — will offer “creative, engaging performances of a variety of repertoire in classical and folk-influenced styles,” according to a press release.
The ensemble is named after Thalassa, the Greek primordial goddess of the sea, who, along with male counterpart Pontos, produced the fish and other sea creatures.
Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for students and ages 60 and older. CVCM was founded in March 2016 by artistic director Susan Wells with the mission “to inspire, educate and entertain listeners through concerts celebrating the richness and diversity of chamber music performed by artists of the highest caliber for the citizens of Chesapeake and Coastal Virginia, as well as develop a cultural awareness and collaboration with musicians on an international level,” according to CVCM’s website.
CVCM will also present Italian organ master Beppino Delle Vedova in concert at 7:30 p.m. March 20 at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 560 Olney Road, Norfolk; and 7 p.m. March 21 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 424 Kings Grant Road, Virginia Beach.
Vedova is the organist and music director at the Academia Organistica Udinese in Udine, Italy.
Admission to both concerts is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information about the above concerts or CVCM, call 757-410-3593 or visit coastalvirginiachambermusic.com.
Weekend Scoop
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A Basquiat full of art
In celebration of Black History Month in February, the Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road in Western Branch, invites all youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grades to immerse themselves in the colorful neo-expressionist art world of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The works and style of Basquiat will be studied during the library’s free Wild Genius Child program from 4-5 p.m. Feb. 24. After being inspired by the New York City artist, youngsters will create their own works in Basquiat’s bold, colorful multimedia style.
Basquiat, the child of a Haitian American father and Puerto Rican mother, is credited with “bringing the African American and Latino experience into the elite art world,” according to biography.com.
He first gained fame as a graffiti artist under the name SAMO and sold his images and designs on postcards and sweatshirts. Later switching to painting, he became known within the lofty New York City and international art universe for his art that used words, symbols, stick figures and animals as well as for his collaborations with pop artist Andy Warhol.
The session is free and open to all youngsters. For more information, call 757-410-7024.
Eric W. Feber, ewjfeber@gmail.com