Sempre Con Te is the first collection of combined visual and
written socio-documentary of the Italian Migration to the
Northern Beaches Area.

The content is not representative of all migrant experiences but
rather it seeks to present a certain section that fits into the
theme of family separation and reunion.

Sempre Con Te pays homage to the presence of ordinary
Southern Italian women, mainly Calabrian, in the Northern
Beaches area. It acknowledges their role as silent preservers
and perpetuators of the precious Italian traditions,
language and culture.

The exhibition, held at The artRoom Upstairs Gallery on
Manly Corso, sought to recreate an informal home
environment; the core being presented through two
separate rooms, the Before room (Senza Te, Without You)
and the After room (Con Te, With You).

The Senza Te room represented the male living quarters before
the arrival of women and families. Dwellings were bare and
devoid of the female touch.

Nine collected personal accounts were displayed in the form of
nine booklets. These were attached to the furniture and were
able to be read at visitor’s leisure.

Four large panels: Life in Italy, The Departure, The Reunion
and Life in Australia featured exerts from the books.

Two mannequins dressed in traditional Southern Italian
costumes could be seen through one window whilst visual
images of the old country could be seen through another. Italian
music transported visitors to a time long forgotten.

In contrast, the Con Te room represented life after the arrival of
the women. This room was warm, welcoming and tactile. It
contained four large panels of framed photographs and
accompanying captions telling stories of Italo-Australian life. The
images depicted not only family reunions but also how the
community adapted its lifestyle and traditions into the Northern
Beaches. Others were a record of migrant shops that no longer
exist and of the local area that once was.

Collected memorabilia, a selection of hand crafted linen, and
dresses were also on display.

The entrance depicted chain migration by showing a family
reunited after nine years where each of its seven members came
to Australia separately.

Commissioned photographs of various Italian women and their
homes were displayed in the corridors as well as used to
illustrate the personal accounts.

Dispersed throughout the walls of the exhibit were collected
impressions, thoughts and ideas of the women’s arrival.

The exhibit was open for one month. An estimated 1500 people
visited, among them, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells,
Mayor Peter Macdonald, Councillor Pat Daily,
David Barr MP and Councillor Brad Hazzard.

Other prominent community members who attended the
Opening can be found on the opening night page of this site.

This project has been a community endeavour. The project team
consists of 6 people and the number of volunteers is countless.

Follow the links to view photographs of the exhibit:

Entrance
Honour Wall
Photo exhibit of Italian women today by Erron Field and
corridor
Senza Te (Without You) room
Con Te (With You) room