L I T E R A T U R E

Selections of poetry are offered by Dainis Deigelis, Daniela Šalce, Elīna Līce, Zane Brūvere Kvēpa and Paula Bička.

Prose compositions are by Uldis Ozolants, Gvido Drage (Redžinalds Grikmanis), Mārtiņš Pommers (Mārtiņš Bērziņš), Linda Tīmane, Lāsma Gaitniece, Jana Veinberga, Kristiāna Kuzmina, Baiba Zīle, Māra Svīre and Līga Rimša.

Kristaps Vecgrāvis translates into Latvian a fragment of Exhalation, sci-fi musings by American writer Ted Chiang, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker magazine on topics related to computing and AI.

 

H I ST O R Y

Valters Nollendorfs’ “Nine Months in 1955” is an account of the beginnings of Jaunā Gaita magazine, as it morphed from a publication of the American Latvian Youth Association (ALJA) into an influential and controversial medium for the entire Latvian exile community. Included is a serialized satirical introspection titled “My (democratic) Struggle” from the early issues of JG, illustrated in comic book form by co-editor and writer Aivars Ruņģis (1925-2001).

 

T H E A T E R

In “Timeless and Timely”, theater critic Atis Rozentāls looks at contemporary productions of two classic plays by Jānis Rainis and Rūdolfs Blaumanis.

 

V I S U A L   A R T

Art editor Linda Treija gives an account of the life and creative production of painter Auseklis Ozols (1941-2025). He was a “Romantic Realist”, founder of The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts in 1978.

 

Rita Šmagre-Žīgure, of the Global Center for Latvian Art in Cēsis, Latvia, writes about photographer Ulvis Alberts (1942-2025), whose portraits of actors, directors and producers as well as poker players in Los Angeles CA have become classics, as have his photographs of the dramatic events of the renewal of Latvian independence in Riga in the 1990’s, many of which were featured in Jaunā Gaita at that time..

 

B O O K   R E V I E W S

Agija Ābiķe reviews Atsevišķa gaisma (A Separate Light) a collection of the poetry of Māris Salējs (Marians Rižijs).

Gundega Zēhauza: Maigajā cietumā (In the Gentle Prison), poetry by Jānis Tomašs.

Ingus Barovskis: Austra, poetry by Daina Sirmā.

Laimdota Ločmele: Mēs karā’i aiziedami... (As We Went Off to War...) by brothers Jānis and Kārlis Junga, a WWII memoir.

Sandra Ratniece: Soļu skaitīšana (Counting Strides) by Kristīne Ilziņa, a novel about growing up in an orphanage.

Jūlija Dibovska: Dzīve tevi salauzīs (Life Will Break You) by Kristīne Želve, a novel about school days in Soviet Latvia from a girl’s perspective.

Sanita Dāboliņa: Kosmonautu iela (Cosmonaut Street) by Andra Manfelde, also a novel about the life of a woman coming of age in Soviet Latvia.

Sanita Dāboliņa: Patiesība (Truth) poetry by Artis Ostups.

Viesturs Vecgrāvis: Atspīdumi (Reflections) poetry by Valters Nollendorfs.

 

I N   M E M O R I A M

Sandra Ratniece marks the passing of writer Velta Kaltiņa (1931-2025).

Guntis Berelis marks the passing of writer Jānis Lejiņš (1954-2025).