Jaunā Gaita nr. 318. rudens 2024

L I T E R A T U R E

The Latvian devils on the cover and in the frontispiece of this issue are from the imagination of artist/poet Voldemārs Avens (1924-1922), a frequent contributor to this magazine ever since its inception.

Samples of recent poetry are from Inga Bitēna, Alise Mētra, and Evija Puķe-Jansone. Prose compositions are from Ilja Marija Bolšakovs, Sandra Dieziņa, Kristīne Ilziņa, Līga Rimša-Eglīte, and Ligita Paegle

T R A N S L A T I O N S

A Latvian translation of a book of short stories Конармия (1926) by Russian Jewish writer Isaac Babel (1894-1940) is to be published this fall under the title Eskadrons. Vija Laganovska shares an excerpt from her translation.

Sergey Moreino offers a Latvian translation from the Polish language of selected recent poems by Agata Puvaļska (Puwalska).

T H E A T E R

An essay by Atis Rozentāls, “Almost a Memoir. Personal Experience Under Stage Lights” gives a broad overview of recent dramatic productions in Latvia.

Sandra Bondarevska, head of the World Latvian Amateur Theater Union (PLATS), writes about “The Life of Latvian Theater Outside Latvia”, and argues that it is an important investment in the future of our nation.

Kristiāna Štrāle Dreika contributes a short dramatic comedic sketch “Parish Elects its Europarliamentarians”.

V I S U A L   A R T

Baiba Magdalena Eglīte of The Global Center for Latvian Art in Cēsis (PLMC) has two illustrated articles in this issue: “On the Exhibition of the Art of the Philadelphia Group”, founded in 1957, and “Kārlis Siliņš” a contemporary artist based in Latvia.

Art historian Dace Lamberga writes about a personal exhibition of the tapestries of Egils Rozenbergs, one of Latvia’s leading artists in this genre, in Ottawa, Canada, titled “Signs of the Times”.

M U S I C

Composer Andris Dzenītis, who is also a writer of essays, offers Essay No. 14 - “Forward and Backward” – about the commonalities and differences among the various professions in art.

Juris Ķeniņš, chairman of the Latvian Song Festival Society in Canada, founded in 1958, writes about the XVI Latvian Festival of Song and Dance in Canada, a celebration of Latvian culture this year from July 4 to 7 in Toronto, Canada.

I N T E R V I E W

Eleven pages in this issue are devoted to a conversation between professor Ojārs Spārītis of the Art Academy of Latvia, and Latvian movie director, actor, writer, painter and publicist Jānis Streičs.

B O O K   R E V I E W S

Agija Ābiķe reviews a book of poems by Inga Gaile: Un varbūt ka mēs visi izdzīvosim. Un varbūt ka mēs visas izdzīvosim (And Maybe We Will All Survive. And Maybe We All Women Will Survive.)

Patrīcija Preisa: Krīta apļi (Chalk Circles) by Džena Andersone, a collection of short stories.

Dagnija Dreika: Nora Kalna’s Dzīve nepāriet (Life Goes On), essays of remembrance.

Lāsma Gaitniece: Nora Ikstena’s novel Jōna (Jonah).

Sanita Dāboliņa: a book of poems and reflections by Anda Līce, Pie vārda vēja (In a Wind of Word).

I N   M E M O R I A M

Lāsma Gaitniece summarizes the career of Alberts Bels (1938-2024), a writer who stood strong against submission to the Russian occupation.

Valters Nollendorfs marks the passing of historian Andrejs Plakans (1940-2024) by praising his book, The Reluctant Exiles. Latvians In the West After World War II).