By Amy Matzke-Fawcett
Peter Schulman, professor of French and international studies in the College of Arts and Letters' Department of World Languages and Cultures at Old Dominion University, is organizing a number of virtual events with on-campus and community partners for the rest of the spring semester. The events are free and open to the public.
- Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.: "Glass Poetry," Chrysler Museum of Art. Artists from the Perry Glass Studio will respond to selections from "Carnets de Couleurs" (Notebooks of Colors) with molten glass. As they work, Quebec poets Diane Régimbald, Louise Dupré, and Denise Desautels will read the poems in French. Schulman will translate them. The poets and artists will host a brief Q&A following each reading. Register at Chrysler.org.
- Three-part series: "The Montreal-Toronto Express: Jewish Culture and Literature North of the Border." Part 1: March 1 at 3 p.m.: Chantel Ringuet, a Yiddish-French Quebecois poet. Part 2: March 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Lisa Richter, author and poet. Part 3: March 24 at 7:30 p.m.: Melanie Loisel, former Radio-Canada reporter and author. For more information or to register, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest.
- March 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m. "Northern Lights: A Rendez-Vous with Quebecois Poet Andréane Frenette-Vallières and her Love of the Great North," Slover Library Webinar, www.slover.org.
- March 12, noon-1 p.m., "A Poetry Reading and Discussion with Ouanessa Younssi, Accomplished Algerian-Canadian poet and psychologist." This is part of the Festival de la Francophonie, sponsored by the French Cultural Services in Washington D.C. Zoom information forthcoming.
- March 26, 6-8 p.m., a free screening on Vimeo (through Eventbrite) of "Mesnak," the acclaimed new film by pioneering indigenous director Yves Sioui Durand. The documentary is about a young man in Montreal who rediscovers his First Nation heritage and goes back to his birthplace. This screening is made possible by a grant for the Delegation of Quebec in New York City as part of the Festival de la Francophonie.
- April 4, 7 to 9 p.m., a special National Poetry Month screening of the Quebecois film "Higher than the Flames," an interpretation in film of Louise Dupré's famous poem. The director and poet will be on hand for a virtual Q and A.
- April 12, 7:10-9:50 p.m., "Spotlight Art," a virtual discussion on contemporary art by Brooklyn artist Sacha Zabotin; Manhattan-based painter Kyle Gallup; Ukwensi Chappell, owner of the Ukwensi Gallery in Norfolk; Stephany Litchi, artist from Quebec City; and Charlotte P. Kasic, interim director of ODU's Barry Museum. Among the themes that will be explored: How can art respond to, alleviate or inspire in times of crisis and in normal everyday life? What is the role of art in today's society? How can it help us transcend the mundane or come to terms with it?
