L I T E R A T U R E

Vizma Belševica (1931-2005) was a writer, translator and poet, whose profound candor inspired the Latvian nation and threatened Soviet orthodoxy. Her son Jānis Elsbergs has contributed twelve of her previously unpublished early poems. Ending a creative hiatus of many years, Elsbergs has also contributed a set of his own recent work.

We have selections of poems by Anna Rancāne, Ruta Štelmahere and Laris Krēsliņš, and short stories by Inga Gaile, Inga Ābele, Haralds Matulis, Sergey Moreino, Lāsma Gaitniece, Sandra Vensko and Reinis Vējiņš.

 

V I S U A L   A R T

Agnija Lesničenoka writes about the academic fraternity of artists “Dzintarzemieši” (Amberlanders) and their influence on defining Latvian identity in the exile community. She is a doctoral student in art history at the University of Latvia.

Art historian Baiba Magdalena Eglīte, a curator at the Global Center for Latvian Art in Cēsis, Latvia, writes about an exhibition this summer of the life work of New York based artist Rolands Kaņeps (1925-2011). Four of his canvases are featured in this issue.

The cover design is by our art editor Linda Treija, president of the American Latvian Artists Association (ALMA).

 

H I S T O R Y

An influential bridge-builder between the Latvian communities within Latvia and abroad, Guntis Liepiņš looks back on how the “Singing Revolution” that presaged the collapse of the Soviet Union was experienced in North America.

 

B O O K   R E V I E W S

Kristīne Ilziņa: Andris Zeibots’ novel Krauklis (The Raven), about the life of poet Jānis Ziemeļnieks (1897-1930)

Bārbala Simsone: Jānis Zelčāns. Visi dati dodas uz debesīm (All Data Heads for the Sky), a collection of science fiction stories.

Silvija Ģibiete: Daiga Mazvērsīte. Melnbaltās dziesmas no Alfrēda Vintera līdz Zigfrīdam Račiņam (Black and White Songs from Alfrēds Vinters to Zigfrīds Račiņš), a history of Latvian pop music.

Lāsma Gaitniece: a Latvian translation from the Lithuanian of Saulius Gryb­kaus­kas’ 2016 monograph Padomju “ģenerālgubernatori”. Komunistiskās partijas otrie sekretāri savienotajās republikās (Soviet “Governors General”. The Second Secretaries of the Communist Party in the Union of Republics).

Lāsma Gaitniece: Tālivaldis Margēvičs’ historical novel Zirgu gaļas pārdevējs (Horsemeat Seller), based on the life of Pauls Taupmanis, a socialist revolutionary who witnessed the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Tija Kārkle, our business manager, who lives in Washington state, interviews Laima Medne (pen name Raven Howell), a prolific author of children's literature.

 

M U S I C

Our music editor, composer / teacher Dace Aperāne offers recommendations for good fall season listening to recorded music by Latvian composers.

 

B R I E F L Y   N O T E D

Members of our editorial staff report news of cultural events since our summer issue, including art exhibits and new books published.

 

I N   M E M O R I A M

Lilita Zaļkalne, a friend of poet and translator Juris Kronbergs (1946-2020), recounts his important contributions to Latvian culture.