I can’t believe I didn’t share this earlier.  This is my primary source:

Афиша is a fantastic magazine that keeps you up to date on the creative happenings in St Petersburg (they have magazines for other Russian cities as well).  Film, Music, Restaurants/Bars, Fashion, Art, Games and Interviews.  It comes out every two weeks and I’ve eagerly awaited each issue, hungry for more.  Unfortunately there are few arts magazines here in Petersburg compared to other cities, but it seems that the people at Афиша do a good job of keeping a consistent and fresh format that clearly focuses the reader’s attention on the content rather than the magazine itself (Russian publications get so easily bogged down with Russian’s love for going over the top) and they cater to various tastes. Check out their website.

As I mentioned in my previous post (in Russian), there are a number of things that I have suddenly started to love while living here in Russia.  Most of them are particular to Russian life (particular Russian dishes, ways of dressing) and I have suddenly developed a need for them.  A new habit of mine is to obsessively read on the metro, common for most people here, and Афиша is great reading material.  Not only do a learn a lot about what is going on in this city, I learn new words that I wouldn’t find in a text book, look cool reading it (oh so artsy!) and feel satisfied with my metro ride.

Keep your finger on the pulse.  I think (and hope) Russia is about to embrace creative change in a big way.

Gypsycats

Last night I met Maxi Shilov and Dasha Gavrilova, creators of these fantastic T-Shirts:  GipsyCats.  They were premiered at Eke-People (a hip, fashion boutique) with plenty of champagne, fresh fruit, cheese and hipsters.  After admiring the new shirts, that were coincidentally located in the back next to the toilets, recognizing the DJ from ЭТАЖИ LoftWineBar, eating my fair share of free almonds, and watching young Russian hipsters go nuts for designer clothes I went with Maxi, Dasha and Andrey for tea.

The topics of conversation that ensued went as follows:

1. Drawings, our work

2. New York

3. Why in the world I like Russia

4. Why Max thinks St Petersburg is horrible

5. Why Max thinks NYC is great

6. Money

Russian slang used in about every other sentence: Круто, преколно, классно.

I was a bit overwhelmed with his pessimism about Russia and St Petersburg, though, staying true to a number of stereotypes, this negativity shouldn’t be surprising.  He argued that everything here is so difficult, people are inhibited by their negative view of the world and the country rarely considers or accepts creative change.  Also, again not straying too far from a stereotype, he discussed how prices here are much higher for quality goods, how people make very little money and money is at the center of people’s worlds.  Russian’s count everything, he claimed.  This is why they so often ask how much you make, pay for your apartment, paid for tomatoes at the market or lent to a friend.

While he passionately exposed the disadvantages of life in St. Petersburg, I couldn’t help thinking about all of the possibilities here.  I understand how this place could drag you down, make you feel trapped, inadequate and helpless.  Things are harder than necessary, but within that struggle I think you can find opportunity.  With fresh creative energy, perspective and ingenuity there are plenty of challenges  that are worth taking on.  Because there are fewer galleries, design companies, quality music venues etc. here that means you can create new ones with a sense of pioneerism.  With a focused Russian creative movement I think anything is possible!  As my friend Andrey likes to say: Don’t just talk about it, Do it!

Granted, I agree that a little exposure to European and American subcultures seems important now, at the very beginning, and one can’t avoid the feeling of playing catch-up, but one can find a place for one’s own voice while following a sort of a tested plan.  There is nothing wrong with using a model to lay the foundation for something larger.  As far as I can tell, coming up on a month of life in Peters, a new generation is hungry for a creative change and is starting to make it happen.