For the first time, two laureates receive the O. Vācietis Literary Prize – poets Inga Pizāne and Jānis Hvoinskis / Article / LSM.lv

On November 13 of this year, on the 87th anniversary of the poet, in a special video recording, the municipality of Carnikava region in cooperation with the Ojārs Vācietis Museum and the Ojārs Vācietis Society announced the winners of the Ojārs Vācietis Literary Prize in Poetry. For the first time in 18 years since the award ceremony, two poets have been named winners – Inga Pizāne for the poetry collection “Wall to Silence” (Jānis Rozes apgāds, 2019) and Jānis Hvoinskis for the poetry collection “Muse from City N” 2019), informed Carnikava municipality.

A record number of poetry books have been nominated for the Ojārs Vācietis Literary Prize in poetry this year. Nine publishers and book publishers have submitted 20 collections of poems this year, and for the first time in the poetry of the Ojārs Vācietis Prize, the commission has awarded two poetry collections an equally high number of points, therefore a cash prize of 1,000 euros was awarded to two poets.

This year, the Ojārs German Evaluation Commission consisted of the following members: Daiga Mieriņa, Chairman of the Carnikava County Council, Elita Terentjeva and Gundaris Kravalis, representatives of the Carnikava County Society, Ieva Ķīse, Director of the Ojārs Vācietis Museum and member of the Ojārs Vācietis Association and 2008 winner of this award Ronalds Briedis.

One of this year’s laureates, the poet Inga Pizāne says: “Life is like this so that we can transform it, Ojārs Vācietis has said, and I agree with him. And, in my opinion, poetry is exactly what helps to notice change – both in ourselves and in the world around us. Even if poetry is not what changes the world, it certainly helps to become more attentive and move the world forward – to make it warmer, more poetic, and in some ways both more fragile and bolder, because poetry reveals to us not only perhaps the most beautiful, but weaknesses and, with that in mind, it helps us to live better lives. ”

Laureate Jānis Hvoinskis: “It is a great pleasure to receive the award at this interesting time. Thanks to the editor Kārlis Vērdiņš, who took on this work and directed me to the editorial office of Neputna, and thanks to the editorial office of Neputna. My biggest thanks to Carnikava City Council for presenting this award to me, for choosing me – to my own surprise. And thank you also for maintaining this award dedicated to the memory of Ojārs Vācietis for years. ”

Collections of poems submitted:

• Publishing house “Neputns”: Jānis Hvoinskis “Muse from the city N”, Toms Treibergs “Thickness”, Raimonds Ķirķis “Maps”, Katrīna Rudzīte “Comfortable portable wings”, Krišjānis Zeļģis “Beauty presence”, Eduards Aivars
• Publishing house “Pētergailis”: Liepa Rūce “Atspulga balss”, Tamāra Skrīna “Mini”, Leons Briedis “Rondeles”, Jānis Tomašs “Smagatlētika”.
• Publishing house and book publishing house “Jāņa Rozes apgāds”: Sandra Ratniece “Seemingly Quiet”, Inga Pizāne “Wall to Silence”, Agnese Rutkēviča “Places for People”.
• Publishing house “Sava grāmata”: Egīls Vitauts Upelnieks “Legends” and “About us”.
• Book digital printing house “Printing house”: Aivars Krūkliņš “Presence”,
• SIA “Talsu Vēstis”: Helmuts Feldmanis “On the White Road”.
• Artists’ Association “Orbit”: Elvira Blom’s “Deleted Images”.
• Association of Memorial Museums: Nora Grēniņa “You call me by name – on the river lines”.
• Publishing House “Literary Combine”: Valentine “Black is just the sea”.

The Ojārs Vācietis Literary Prize in Poetry is awarded once a year for the collection of poems published in the previous literary year. In 2003, Ādaži County Council together with Carnikava County Council renewed the O. Vācietis Prize, but since 2011 the prize has been awarded by Carnikava County Council, organizing the event in cooperation with Ojārs Vācietis Museum and Ojārs Vācietis Association. The aim of the award is to honor the memory of the outstanding Latvian poet O. Vācietis, to popularize and support the creativity of Latvian poets and Latvian cultural traditions, to promote the creative activity of young poets.

Among the laureates are Jānis Rokpelnis, Amanda Aizpuriete, Inese Zandere, Inga Gaile, Andra Manfelde, Pēteris Brūvers, Imants Auziņš, Ronalds Briedis, Edvīns Raups, Leons Briedis, Anna Auziņa, Anna Dzintare, Māris Salējs, Daina Sirmā and Arvis

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