Forgiveness Project: Internment (Work In Progress)
Once completed, this project will consist of 8 stitched paper tapestries that 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 sympathizer 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.
I transcribed the letters my grandmother wrote to government officials, on handmade paper left to me by my aunt. She made the paper from locally sourced plant fibres and now I’m tearing and cutting through the letters and stitching the fragments together. The result will be 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 monochromatic portraits that hang approximately 15” 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. I have completed 6 of the 8 tapestries - My grandmother (Clementina), My grandfather (Rev. Libero), uncles Alberindo, Italo, Lindo and Livio.
You are welcome to read the letters I transcribed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ClementinaSauro.
I transcribed the letters my grandmother wrote to government officials, on handmade paper left to me by my aunt. She made the paper from locally sourced plant fibres and now I’m tearing and cutting through the letters and stitching the fragments together. The result will be 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 monochromatic portraits that hang approximately 15” 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. I have completed 6 of the 8 tapestries - My grandmother (Clementina), My grandfather (Rev. Libero), uncles Alberindo, Italo, Lindo and Livio.
You are welcome to read the letters I transcribed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ClementinaSauro.
