L I T E R A T U R E

We feature selections of poetry by Agris Pilsums, Juris Helds, Krista Anna Belševica, Zane Brūvere-Kvēpa and, in translation, poems by Israeli poet Gali-Dana Singer; also poetic prose by Dagnija Dreika and short stories by Ramona Indriksone and Vladis Spāre.

 

V I S U A L   A R T

The paintings of Ieva Baklāne (Vancouver, Canada) combine surreal architectural fantasy with abstraction. Linda Treija, president of the American Latvian Artists Association (ALMA) writes: “Ieva’s paintings call to mind endless summer and sunlit meditation. They help affirm emotional equilibrium in our highly stressful time.” Baklāne’s art is displayed throughout this issue, including the cover.

 

M U S I C

Composer/pianist Māris Lasmanis (Latvia), interviewed by writer Lāsma Gaitniece, states that “The time is right for our generation to ascend the Olympus of Latvian art.”

 

T H E A T E R

Sanfrancisko Jaunais Teātris (The New Theater of San Francisco), founded in 2010, is one of the few remaining active Latvian theater groups in the United States. Aija Moeller, its publicity director, writes about a production of the play Sprīdītis? (Tom Thumb?), which was well received in SanFrancisco, Boston and Washington DC in 2018.

 

A C T U A L I T I E S

In December 2018 the Latvian National Archive published the dossiers of agents recruited by the KGB during the Soviet occupation. Independent journalist Otto Ozols gives a detailed acount of the history of the renewal of Latvia’s independence in 1991, and urges us to stay vigilant against the cabals of former Cheka (KGB) officers who still wield influence in every nation of the former Soviet Union.

Writer Signe Rirdance describes the centenary celebration of Latvia’s independence in Stockholm, Sweden in November 2018, and reflects on past such celebrations in the diaspora.

 

R E M E M B R A N C E

Writer Ilze Lāce-Verhaeghe reminisces about her acquaintance with poet Aivars Neibarts (1939-2001), a colorful personality in the bohemian underground of Rīga’s literati in the late 1960-ies.

 

B O O K S

Ineta Lipša, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Latvian History presents a detailed account of the censorship trials following the first publication in 1934 of a Latvian translation of D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Bārbala Simsone reviews izelpas (exhalations), a collection of short stories by Laura Vinogradova.

Andrejs Grāpis reviews Skolotāji (Teachers) a 20th century historical novel by Andris Akmentiņš.

Kristīne Ilziņa reviews Tad redzēs (Then We’ll See), short stories by Dace Vīgante, and Kliedziens starp āboliem (A Cry in the Orchard), poetry by Ināra Kaija Eglīte.

Sandra Ratniece reviews 1904. Melanholiskais valsis (1904. Melancholy Waltz), an account of a year in the life of composer Emīls Dārziņš (1875-1910), by Inga Žolude.

 

B R I E F L Y   N O T E D

News shorts: In memoriam, recent publications, cultural events.