Violinist Offers Poetic View of Earth at TAMIU Planetarium Shows Nov. 7

Experience the beautiful Earth as you have never seen or heard it with “Bella Gaia: A Poetic Vision of Earth From Space,” the highlight of the upcoming Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium Green Dependence Day Saturday, Nov. 7.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited to first come first served.

“Audiences will experience something entirely different with ‘Bella Gaia.’ ” teased Gerardo A. Pérez, director, LBV Planetarium.

“We encourage people to show up early as we will not be taking reservations,” Pérez added.

Created by award-winning director and classically trained violinist Kenji Williams, “Bella Gaia” (Beautiful Earth) features a 45-minute live performance by Williams with a full-dome Planetarium immersion of orbiting visualizations of Earth from space.

Williams describes “Bella Gaia” as a portal for an audience to develop a deeper connection and empathy with our planet Earth. It features scenes of the Earth as seen through the eyes of astronauts that includes images of the fires in the Amazon basin and a time-lapse image of the Arctic ice melt. It also includes exotic Japanese temples, Egyptian pyramids and footage from the Laya project.

Williams will perform along to “Bella Gaia” at 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

“The vision of ‘Bella Gaia’ is to bring the power of art, technology, space science, and real scientific data visualizations together into a context that is both entertaining and educational, fused with a common goal of raising the awareness and appreciation of our home planet. ‘Bella Gaia’ can actually visually display how we humans are affecting the planet, and how each element affects the other, allowing the audience to easily understand the delicate interconnected balance of our planet,” states the “Bella Gaia” Web site.

The show is a natural fit with Green Dependence Day.

“We will have several booths from our sponsors, AEP Texas, City of Laredo Solid Waste and Border Media, with energy saving tips, information on recycling and an exhibit panel and presentation from the Environmental Protection Agency,” added Pérez.

Green Dependence Day is scheduled for 5 – 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Pérez at 326.2606 or e-mail gaperez@tamiu.edu

For more information on and a trailer of “Bella Gaia,” visit bellagaia.com

Additional information is available online at tamiu.edu/planetarium at a 326-DOME and @txamiu on Facebook and Twitter.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu