Captured Moments 2024/25
These stitched paper portraits shed light on the WWII internment of the Reverend Libero Sauro, my Italian Canadian grandfather. Like thousands of Italian Canadians, he was believed to be a fascist sympathsizer by the government of Canada and was taken from his family and held at Camp Petawawa, Ontario for four months. Unlike others, his stay was short due to the numerous letters my grandmother wrote advocating for his release. Ironically, five of his nine children were serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is a time in our Canadian history that is largely forgotten but could easily happen again to another targeted immigrant community.
To build this series, I transcribed the letters my grandmother wrote on paper made by my aunt. (she gave me her stash of handmade paper shortly before she died). After transcribing the letters, I tore/cut them and stitched them together to create portraits of my grandparents, my five uncles and the red target that was stitched to the back of each internee’s uniform. When light is cast upon these delicate, monochromatic tapesties that hang approximately 8-12” from the wall, a detailed shadow appears like a ghost from the past. This process of making, allows me to go back to that time, empathize with my family, forgive, and perhaps let go of any lingering trauma. You are welcome to read the letters I transcribed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ClementinaSauro.
In the video below, "Captured Moments" is featured at the Joseph Carrier Gallery, Columbus Centre, Toronto Canada and includes a video of me performing an interpretive dance to a recording of my grandmother singing "Berceuse" accompanied by my cousin Marcus Lowry on Guitar. This performance adds another layer to the exhibition, making it a multi-sensory experiience for the visitor.
Historical Context:
Over 600 Italian Canadians were interned across Canada under the War Measures Act, and approximately 31,000 were classified as “enemy aliens.” My grandfather, Reverend Libero Sauro, was wrongly suspected of being a fascist sympathizer, despite having five sons serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was interned for four months at Camp 33 in Petawawa, Ontario.
To build this series, I transcribed the letters my grandmother wrote on paper made by my aunt. (she gave me her stash of handmade paper shortly before she died). After transcribing the letters, I tore/cut them and stitched them together to create portraits of my grandparents, my five uncles and the red target that was stitched to the back of each internee’s uniform. When light is cast upon these delicate, monochromatic tapesties that hang approximately 8-12” from the wall, a detailed shadow appears like a ghost from the past. This process of making, allows me to go back to that time, empathize with my family, forgive, and perhaps let go of any lingering trauma. You are welcome to read the letters I transcribed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ClementinaSauro.
In the video below, "Captured Moments" is featured at the Joseph Carrier Gallery, Columbus Centre, Toronto Canada and includes a video of me performing an interpretive dance to a recording of my grandmother singing "Berceuse" accompanied by my cousin Marcus Lowry on Guitar. This performance adds another layer to the exhibition, making it a multi-sensory experiience for the visitor.
Historical Context:
Over 600 Italian Canadians were interned across Canada under the War Measures Act, and approximately 31,000 were classified as “enemy aliens.” My grandfather, Reverend Libero Sauro, was wrongly suspected of being a fascist sympathizer, despite having five sons serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was interned for four months at Camp 33 in Petawawa, Ontario.
