It’s been known as the Caetani House ever since Italian aristocrat Leone Caetani bought the Pleasant Valley Road building in 1913. When his daughter, Sveva, died in 1994, she left the home to the city, hoping her passion — art — would continue to live there. Since then, and now under the hands of the new Caetani Cultural Centre Society, the Caetani House will be known as the home of both arts and artists in Vernon. “That’s what Sveva wanted — to open up the arts and make it accessible,” said Judy Katalinic, program development manager at the Caetani House, where dignitaries and others gathered Monday to mark the society’s formation and a number of renovations to the grounds. Patrick Allen was a member of the Vernon Public Art Gallery committee that has run the house for the last 14 years. He’s now chair of the society set to form a board later this year to take on managing the house, its artist studios and apartments, and a new website as well as developing more arts programs and events.
“It’s a big facility and there’s a lot of potential,” said Allen, adding the society’s main focus this year will be implementing an artist-in-residence program to complement the artists living in the house and working in the on-site studios. “They’ll contribute something to the house and to the community,” said Allen. Mayor Wayne Lippert said the society will help carry on Sveva’s wish to foster the arts in Vernon. “This is a good step forward for the city and for Sveva Caetani,” said Lippert. In a letter sent to the house for the event in his place, the Consul General of Italy, Uberto Vanni d’Archirafi, commended the city and the society for preserving the Caetani family’s legacy. “The extraordinary life of Sveva Caetani is a legacy and is also a testament of a most enriching cultural link between Italy and Canada.” The Caetani House and its grounds still contain many of the elements brought to it by Leone, duke of Sermoneta and prince of Teano, and his wife, Ofelia. A former Japanese gardener’s home at the back of the property underwent renovations in 2005 and was converted into two artist studios, currently occupied by writer Virginia Dansereau and painter Mike Jell.
On Tuesday, society members unveiled the renovations to two more buildings — a dog house and a dance studio — to accommodate two more artist studios. The courtyard and walkway between the studios were expanded, a rose garden rockery was built, and, beyond the parking lot, a tool shed made of straw, sand and clay was constructed. Funding for the recent renovations, totalling nearly $22,000, was provided by the Kalamalka Rotary Club, while Human Resources Canada provided labour to both projects at a cost of more than $12,000. Allen said with more space for artists and the potential for new programs, the public will have the chance to experience art at the Caetani House through workshops, classes, exhibitions and concerts. “We want to provide more opportunities (for people) to get on the site.” Last week the grounds played host to the 22nd annual Midsummer’s Eve of the Arts, the gallery’s main fundraiser. Sunday will see nearly a dozen musicians performing there in the Caetani Jazz Picnic from 2 to 8 p.m. For more information about The Caetani Cultural Centre and events at the Caetani House, visit www.Caetaniculturalcentre.org.
2 comments:
Heidi Thompson wrote a wonderful book on Sveva Caetani to honour her contribution to the local art scene
Heidi more than any society -herself a wonderful artist- spent a great deal of time with Sveva and became an intimate friend of hers
until her death
I am sure Heidi would be a great source for the society for information and insights Re Sveva Caetani
Why is Heidi Thompson not asked an artist-in residence at Sveva's House?
Who are these people they have there and who chose them?
What are the qualifications and selection process?
I should have thought that of all artists in Vernon Heidi Thompson would have been an obvious choice
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