The Editors are inviting authors who contribute to AB as specialists in various disciplines to answer a series of questions about the future of the cultural fields they are professionally associated with. Instead of guessing, we consider it important to learn their opinions directly.

Part of the resulting responses have been selected for publication. In this issue we begin to acquaint readers with these experts’ opinions on the future of culture.

While preparing the magazine  for publication, we have moderated discussions among generalist readers about the responses chosen for print, and also offer the most provocative, sometimes potentially controversial, fragments of these discussions for contemplation. Perhaps this will inspire a wish to voice other points of view.

The Editors thank all the specialists who have responded to the invitation to share their thoughts on the future, as well as all readers who have shown themselves far from indifferent to issues obviously critical for everyone.

PART ONE:

PHILOSOPHY

ART

SCIENCE

PART TWO:

AMERICAN POETS AND ARTISTS ON THE ARTS

MORE PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE

We thank the pianist Elena Kuschnerova for her support of this project.

New York (Photo: J. Manteith)

James Manteith, translator (Photo: Dmitry Galanin)

Sergei Deych, director (Photo: Dmitry Galanin)

The director and the cameraman (Daniil Deych) (Photo: Dmitry Galanin)

Interview with T. Apraksina. Memories of encounters with composers. (Photo: Dmitry Galanin)

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

We invite you to make use of a rare opportunity to spend an evening in the company of the editor-in-chief of “Apraksin Blues” — Tatyana Apraksina, who has traveled to Petersburg for this from California, where for the past fifteen years the magazine has continued to be published and develop, to extend into new geographic and linguistic spaces.

You will receive answers to all questions relating to the magazine’s profile and fate, the organization of its work, conditions of publication, and plans for the future.

You will also meet “A.B.” translation editor, author and one of the main participants in the publication process — James Manteith.

This event is dedicated to the twenty year anniversary of the magazine’s operations.

We look forward to seeing you at the St. Petersburg office at Apraksin Lane, Building 3, Apartment 3 (entrance through the archway).

Sunday, April 5, 5 p.m.

Monday, April 6, 6 p.m.

 

We hope to see you soon!

Elena Starovoitova,

Office Coordinator, St. Petersburg Division

“Apraksin Blues”

On the History of Unofficial Culture and the Contemporary Russian Diaspora: 1950s-1990s. Autobiographies. Authors’ readings. / [Compiled, edited, annotated by Y. M. Valieva]. St. Petersburg: OOO “Contrast,” 2015. 600 p. + 3 CDs.

ISBN 978-5-4380-0099-0

The book includes new materials on the history of unofficial culture and the contemporary Russian diaspora: autobiographies, manuscript facsimiles, photographs. Among texts published here for the first time are autobiographies of samizdat leaders Boris Ivanov and Vyacheslav Dolinin, transfuturist poets Sergei Sigei and Ry Nikonova, Malaya Sadovaya Circle writer Alexander Churilin, and poet and artist Tatiana Apraksina.

The section “Materials on the History of Unofficial Culture” features interviews, memoirs, documents on the history of samizdat.

This edition includes three audio CDs containing recordings of readings by all writers represented in the book, including: Naum Korzhavin, Yevgeny Rein, Ludmila Shtern, human rights movement participants Alexander Esenin-Volpin, Natalia Gorbanevskaya, former political prisoners Nikolai Brown and Anatoly Berger, modern Russian emigre authors Vladimir Lazarev, Vladimir Gandelsman, Bakhyt Kenjeev, Vladimir Druk, Katya Kapovich, Yevgeny Slivkin, Irina Mashinskaya.

The “Audio Archives” include 1970s-1980s by authors including OBERIU writer Igor Bakhterev. The book draws on materials from Russian and foreign archives, as well as from private collections. Most of the material is previously unpublished.

The book and audio set is addressed to specialists — linguists, historians of culture, teachers of Russian language and literature, as well as a wide range of readers.

Participants in the evening presentation include: Vyacheslav Dolinin, Nikolai Brown, Anatoly Berger, Mikhail Eremin, Irina Tsymbal, Sergey Stratanovsky, Petr Cheigin, Tatyana Tsarkova, Tatyana Apraksina

Vasilevsky Island, 18th line, d. 1

Great Hall (Hall №201)

Cost 70 rubles – ticket to the museum

Telephone: 327-35-06

 

Concert: “Light of the Morning Star”

 

A unique recital, dedicated by its participants to the birthday of Helena Roerich and the 25th anniversary of the founding of CESAME – the Center for Soviet-American Musical Exchange.

The program features works by American composer and pianist Richard Cameron-Wolfe and Petersburg composer Gregory Korchmar.

 

Cameron-Wolfe’s work as a pianist reflects his strong interest in “missing links” — early twentieth century composers who represent the transition from late Romanticism to “sound art,” and whose music is rarely performed today. The life and legacy of the great Russian artist and humanist Nicholas Roerich and humanist inspired Cameron-Wolfe to compose “Roerich Rhapsody,” scored for piano and cello.

 

Gregory Korchmar is an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, the artistic director of the International Festival “Petersburg Musical Spring,” and the chairman of the St. Petersburg Union of Composers. His creative activity has consistently combined composition and performance (currently as a pianist and harpsichordist in the chamber ensemble “Soloists of St. Petersburg”). He is the author of more than 150 works in various musical genres.

Last year saw the renewal of operations of our historic St. Petersburg editorial offices, at this address:
“Apraksin Blues” St. Petersburg, Apraksin per. d. 3, kv. 3, St. Petersburg 191023 Russia
t. 310-9640, m. 8-921-78-68-456
and the release of our jubilee issue 25 “OF ALL THE…”
We look forward to fresh news and meetings!
Elena Starovoitova, St. Petersburg
A few of the opening’s participants:

Elena Starovoitova

Elena Starovoitova

Olga Syray

Olga Syray

Nikolai Serov

Nikolai Serov

At the Apraksin Blues SPb editorial offices

At the Apraksin Blues SPb editorial offices

1997. At the presentation of Apraksin Blues issue 7.

1997. At the presentation of Apraksin Blues issue 7.

An exhibit of T. Apraksina’s artwork is on view at the headquarters of Intel Corp. in Santa Clara, California, from April 1 through June 28, 2013.
Inquiries about the exhibit may be directed to apraksinblues@yahoo.com

The gathering took place May 21 in St. Petersburg as part of the Youth Forum for Contemporary Art at the House of Youth, with the participation of the Art-parkING Center for New Technologies in the Arts.

A direct hit

The presentation of “Apraksin Blues” issue 23 in St. Petersburg took place on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The gathering’s format was traditional, as a meeting of authors and friends, but combined — for the first time — with participation in the Youth Forum of Contemporary Art, at the House of Youth, Novoizmailovsky Avenue, Building 48.
As a result, the presentation and its discussions proved naturally open to the themes and space of contemporary art throughout the large-scale exhibits and intense activities of the forum at the House of Youth.
Author Piotr Tarasov spoke on the preservation of Russian language. Irina Mikhailova recounted the process of writing her article “Sower and Seed,” dedicated to the great director Nagisa Osima.
Alexander Lvov spoke about his journey to the Apraksin Blues Campus in California, and Elena Starovoitova, on the verge of traveling there herself, shared thoughts about her preparation and expectations for the stay.
Vladimir Ulyanov (Lvov) spoke about his book dedicated to B.V. Zon, the well-known theatrical director. Elena Bashkevich, author of an article on Lawrence of Arabia in issue 23, spoke about her writing and presented her own poetry, as did Irina Mikhailova. Tamara Tomikhai read examples of Chinese verse in Russian translation.
The gathering closed with a concert by the Moscow Ensemble of Contemporary Music, part of the forum’s richly diverse program.
Text and photos by Natalia Gladoush

More soon…