Today, on December 15th, a presentation of a renewed 'Odesa almanac' took place in the Odesa State Library after Ivan Franko.
This library, known by its amazingly impressive history, hosted a brilliant gathering of Odesa, Ukrainian and foreign poets, writers, translators, songwriters, artists, journalists and scientists. Creative writing, a hobby for some and a professional vocation for the others, united people who shared an everlasting and sincere love for Odesa. While the almanac with the same name was first issued in the 19th centure, its 21st century 'reincarnation' has become braver and more expressive than before. The authors do not only focus on romanticizing the city streets - in their short stories and poems they convey the very essence of the city - international, hospitable, industrious, inspired and witty.
People of all walks of life have placed their verbal self-portraits among the timeless topics of love, peace, harmony, prosperity and knowledge. Although their artistic voices may vary, the spirit of the whole alamanac stays as uplifting, courageous and harmoniously elated as the bottom of each Odesa resident's heart.
The almanac creators and editors, Rita Kolobova (the First Art Consul of Odesa, a poet, an artist, a journalist, a philanthropist, a highly skilled orator, an art dealer and a philosopher) and her stellar team of publishers have obviously achieved their main goal - to promote and focus on Odesa as a cultural pearl of Ukraine and to cast light over numerous talents of the featured authors.
Rita Kolobova is the only organizer of the 'Odesa almanac' (1831 foundation year) revival in 2023, and so she is the Editor-in-chief, the literary editor, the illustrator, as well as the idea creator. Her approach to uniting people through art is crucial for the literary process development in Ukraine.
Long live Odesa! Long live literature!
2023
