Artist’s Statement
This project stems from an invisible thread. It is the thread that brought me back here, from across the ocean, to retrace the steps of my great-grandmother Teresa Elisabetta Garreffa, whom her father took away from Antonimina in 1912, the year after she was born.
Returning here, I felt I was re-rooting my ancestors in the land they once had to leave out of necessity, eventually losing touch with the family who remained. As a documentary filmmaker, I came to Italy in 2024 with a deep desire in my heart: to discover who I truly was as an artist. I wanted to expand my creative process, feel more connected to what I wanted to say, and speak more directly to my soul...
The people of Antonimina wish to carry this project forward to keep our traditions and our community alive. The testimonies gathered will also form part of a broader effort to revitalize the village, which is facing the consequences of depopulation.
If you wish to support this mission, we welcome any contribution with deep gratitude. Your help will allow us to record the stories of other elders who are eager to share them, while expanding this project to other parts of the world where the Antonimina community has emigrated.
If you would like to collaborate in any other way, you can contact the artist directly at me@jacquelineromano.com.
The following recordings were made possible with the support of:
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The Interview That Inspired This Project
Concetta Luvarà is the eldest woman of artist Jacqueline Romano's cousins. This project was inspired during an interview Jacqueline recorded with her as research for her feature film. This film will be based on the true story of Jacqueline's great-grandmother, born in Antonimina.
