Italian Collection

Item set

Title
Italian Collection

Items

6 resources
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1 item set

5 items

  • Immigration: Sacrifice, Memory and Tradition - Dec. 2015

    Milena Gallinaro, vice president of the Marconi Club, is a committed member of the Italian community in London Ontario and shares her passion for her roots with her friends and family. This interview of Milena imparts the effects of immigration on one’s identity. Milena addresses the sacrifices she had to make growing up and the life her family led upon their arrival in Canada. Milena is sentimental for her early childhood homes, Labin, Croatia and Trieste, Italy, and discusses how she maintains the connection with these places. Milena reflects on her experience in school, her engagement with the Italian community in London and the making of a home for her family. She explains that she her husband gave their kids what she lacked growing up: stability. My partner discusses the importance of staying close with your family and of keeping up traditions.

  • London's Cultural Standoffs: A Unique Perspective - Dec. 2015

    The London Italian community has embraced many Italian immigrants into their fold throughout the 1990s. One in particular, Franca, has noticed the political and cultural differences between the Italian community and the London Italian community from her own unique perspective as the Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy for the area. In her time in London, she's noticed how the London Italian community bring their traditions over from Italy and continue with them here in Canada. In addition, there seems to be a community divide between the academia and the rest of the London Italian community. Through her observations, one can more accurately conceptualize the cultural patterns within the framework of immigration.

  • Renowned pianist, aeducator and musical pioneer in Europe and North America - Dec. 2015

    This portrait will focus on how the innate musicality of Ms. Damjana Bratuz, an amazing woman who lost her childhood to World War 2 created a new life for herself as a worldly, musical pioneer. Although much is already noted about her family and the oppressions which they faced after the collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian empire to Fascism, the portrait will show how music education and performance started her travels around the globe and how they eventually led to her settling into a life in North America. With this portrait, I hope to show how she escaped the post war struggles and depression which were endured by many through life as a pianist; a talent which she considers "the solution of a difficult situation." Through various meetings with her, we were able to enjoy a typical Italian afternoon espresso while she recounted the events and moments which have lead to her unique life story. I was initially motivated to tell her story in this manner because I believe that there is much more depth to this strong woman than the fact that she survived during World War 2. In my opinion, I believed that it would be important to document how she found perseverance in one of the most unlikely weapons; music.

  • Roberta and Flaviano's Journey from Migrants to Humanitarians - Dec. 2015

    This portrait outlines Flaviano and Roberta Cordovado's migration to Ontario, Canada. It also highlights the work they have done in El Salvador. They have built an intuition there that houses children with mental and physical disabilities. This work in Central America has helped to bring the London Italian Community together for a single cause. The Cordovado's visit El Salvador annually to work and visit with the children, friends and family. They continue to help this community by fundraising and volunteering.

  • The Story of London's First Pizzeria - Dec. 2015

    With much passion and a few good laughs, Vito Moretti tells the story of his immigration to Canada in 1951. The journey extracts him from all the familiarities of life in Italy but he soon finds himself an important part of the London community. Through an unlikely series of events surrounding the establishment of London's first pizzeria, the narrative weaves unexpectedly, finding both catastrophe and hero in the seemingly ordinary. Interestingly, Vito ultimately draws upon resources from both the University, the London community, and his hometown, Bari, to build his business from nothing. Ultimately, the viewer is left with an optimistic image of solidarity and togetherness across cultural backgrounds that allowed for a beautifully successful immigrant story.