In New York, the latest issue of the almanac «Belarus» was presented, this time the most record-breaking in terms of volume and authors
On December 13, in the community hall of the Cathedral of St. Cyril of Turov in Brooklyn (New York), the presentation of the new, nineteenth issue of the literary almanac of Belarusian writers abroad «Belarus» took place.
Photos by Natallia Hardzienka, here and further
This year's issue turned out to be, it seems, a record-breaker in terms of the number of authors and volume. Eight of the 27 authors of this publication participated in the presentation, writes researcher of Belarusian emigration Natallia Hardzienka.
One of them — Siarzhuk Sakalau-Voyush — was the host of the event. Another — Viktar Yedzinovich — recalled little-known pages of the Second World War.
Vital Zaika and Siarzhuk Sakalau-Voyush
Vital Zaika presented a family history with one very interesting image that was most remembered — that part of the nail that is in the wall, and on which, in fact, everything holds.
At the end of the presentation, Hanna Sharko compared Marat Klakotski, the publisher of the almanac itself, to this part of the nail, as «Belarus» has indeed been holding on him for almost two decades.
Tatsiana Zamirovskaya spoke about the empty Minsk of the early 2000s, and also formulated the name of a distinctive phenomenon of emigrant life in recent years — when exiles cannot say goodbye in reality to relatives or friends dying in Belarus, but can do so either through virtual participation in memorial meetings, or through photo reports made at funerals. Such «digital funerals» are a sign of our time, about which it is difficult not to think.
Zianon Pazniak and Siarzhuk Sakalau-Voyush
Zianon Pazniak presented two plays for children of different ages, which can even be staged in school theaters.
His namesake, Alex Pazniak, in his stories raised eternal, but also very relevant after 2020, questions of whether it is possible and worthwhile to respond to evil with evil, and how to react to violence.
Halina Pazniak presented her memoirs about events in Minsk in the late 1980s — first half of the 1990s, as well as about life in emigration in Poland and the USA.
Another set of memoirs was traditionally published in the almanac by Valiantsina Yakimovich. They are dedicated to Ales Pushkin and also concern life in Minsk in the 1990s.
Siarzhuk Sakalau-Voyush, Marat Klakotski and Hanna Sharko
At the presentation, there were interesting discussions about the necessity of honoring modern heroes, about the indestructibility of Belarusians, about revolutions and peaceful protest, and more. During the event, two exhibitions were also opened: photographs taken by Zianon Pazniak, and paintings by Valiantsina Yakimovich.