XXIV International Chagall Readings in Vitebsk dedicated to the memory of David Simonovich

On June 14-15, the XXIV International Chagall Readings were held in Vitebsk, with the participation of historians, art critics, archivists, museum workers, and writers from Belarus, Russia, Japan, and Germany.

This year's readings are dedicated to the memory of the poet, Chairman of the Chagall Committee, David Simanovich, who passed away on May 9. The scientific conference began with a screening of the film "Family Album", presentations on the creative and public activities of David Simanovich, and reminiscences of our remarkable Vitebsk resident by his friends and associates Mikhail Sherling and Vladimir Popkovich. Natalia Shienok, Head of the Department of Ideological Work, Culture, and Youth Affairs of the City Executive Committee, spoke warmly, reminding that many significant events are associated with Simanovich's name – he was the inspirer of the Pushkin Festival, Korotkevich Days, and one of the initiators of the "Constellation of Muses" award. He was acquainted with Vasil Bykov, Ryhor Baradulin, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and introduced them to us, the townspeople. David Grigoryevich was attentive to the festival of disabled people and supported talents. "We are indebted to this man, let us preserve his memory," said Natalia Alekseevna.

Participants also honored the memory of Ryhor Baradulin and Moscow art critic Natalia Apchinskaya, friends of the Chagall Readings who passed away this year.

Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya, Director of the Marc Chagall Museum, stated that the readings continue to generate great interest among specialists, allowing for the discovery of previously unknown facets of Chagall's themes. Some scholars return to Vitebsk year after year with new research. For instance, art historian Yakov Bruck, a researcher at the State Tretyakov Gallery, prepared a report this year titled "Marc Chagall in Malakhovka". He is also a member of the editorial board of the publishing series "Chagall House Bookshop". The writer and Russian studies scholar from Hamburg, Brigitte van Kann, also participates in this project, but this is her first time attending the readings as a special guest.

Currently, Vitebsk museum staff and archivists are preparing a collection of documents dedicated to Yuri Pen for publication in the "Bookshop" (this year marks the 160th anniversary of the artist's birth). At the readings, attendees were given the opportunity to review materials on Pen's participation in the 1927 Jubilee Exhibition of Arts of the Peoples of the USSR, presented by Vladimir Kokhanko, Head of the Department of the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region, and the history of the 1899 Vitebsk Art Exhibition for the benefit of the Society for the Care of Children, presented by Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya.

All ten reports presented at the XXIV International Marc Chagall Readings will be published in the next issue of the "Bulletin of the Marc Chagall Museum".

Nataliya Krupitsa, "Vitbichi"