Villa Charities 2018 Annual Report VC19_AnnualReport_Interiors_Apr29_FNL2 | Page 38

“
The gallery space
is a jewel in Toronto.”
– Tony Luciani,
artist/photographer
joseph d. carrier
art gallery profi le
Villa Charities pointed a new lens
on dementia with a presentation of
Canadian-Italian artist Tony Luciani’s
photographic exhibition, “MAMMA, In
the Meantime,” at the Columbus Centre’s
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery.
The exhibition, presented with support
from the Alzheimer Society, told the
story of Tony and his mother Elia as they
embarked on a unique journey of
discovery where the grief and wonders
of living with dementia are expressed in
art. It was the gallery’s largest exhibition
of 2018.
“This outstanding artistic event
showcased a photographer’s creative and
compelling approach to a subject that is
highly personal to him, yet is also
universal,” said Emanuele Lepri, Executive
Director of Cultural Programming, Villa
Charities. “The focus on Alzheimer’s was
also highly relevant to Villa Charities’
community of seniors.”
Luciani’s work artfully tackles a difficult
and timely subject with warmth and
empathy, delivering a message of hope.
It has also helped create awareness of
dementia, end the stigma associated with
being diagnosed and show the benefits of
receiving help, both directly with gallery
visitors and through significant media
attention generated by the exhibition.
This included a Feb. 2018 article in
Toronto Life in which writer Ali Amad
observed, “The mostly black-and-white
images document Elia’s battle with
dementia, but they have a playful levity,
and some are imbued with a dash of
magical realism.”
The exhibition brought to life Villa
Charities’ mission of promoting and
celebrating the outstanding artistic
experiences that reflect Italian culture,
and providing care for seniors in the
community. Villa Charities partnered
with the Istituto di Cultura Italiano in
Toronto on programming activities
connected to the exhibition.
TESTIMONIAL
My exhibition, ‘MAMMA, In the Meantime’,
was truly marvelous in scope and magical
in essence. I can’t say enough wonderful
things about Emanuele, Flavio, Cassandra
and everyone else involved in crystallizing
such a massive undertaking.
The gallery space is a jewel in Toronto.
It envelopes the viewers with its warm
rounded walls, creating a cozy and
intimate experience for such an expansive
floor space.
The day my mom and I stood at the
entrance and gazed at all three levels at
once, with each floor filled with a
collection of memories was emotional for
us, considering the series was about
Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Tony Luciani, artist/photographer
(and Elia)
“MAMMA, In the Meantime” by Tony Luciani
38
VILLA CHARITIES
ANNUAL REPORT
39