Beyond the Barbed Wire: Experiences of Italian Canadians in WWII display case

Display case in the exhibition Beyond the Barbed Wire: Experiences of Italian Canadians in WWII.

The case contains the Bust of Benito Mussolini by Charles Marega (ca. 1930) on loan from the Museum of Vancouver. This bust was found in the basement of the former Italian consulate after World War II. It was anonymously donated to the Vancouver archive following a mysterious telephone call to the City Archivist, Major Matthews. The bust is the work of renowned sculptor, Charles Marega, (1871-1939), the sculptor of many of Vancouver’s landmarks, such as the lions of Lions Gate Bridge. For more information about the bust see LDICEA2012.0035.0001.

The Italian Cultural Centre Society (ICC) in Vancouver, BC created a project entitled A Question of Loyalty, which recognized and commemorated the experiences of those affected by the internment of Italian Canadians in British Columbia during World War II. The project included a play (Fresco, written by Lucia Frangione in collaboration with the BellaLuna Ensemble) a book (Injustice Served, the story of BC’s WWII Italian Enemy Aliens by Ray Culos), and an exhibition at the Italian Cultural Centre (Beyond the Barbed Wire: Experiences of Italian Canadians in WWII). The exhibition was on display at Il Museo at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, BC from March 8, 2012 to August 31, 2012.