TERRAZZO - THE EVOLUTION OF AN ITALIAN CRAFT
Wednesday, Jan 18 at 8 pm • At the KCIC Hall & Via Zoom

watch The full recorded presentation

This is the full presentation. We did lose the first few minutes due to technical difficulties. We have also edited in higher resolution versions of the feature videos we showed that evening. The full presentation is 1:40:25. We also surprise guest Gerry Ghini with a little bit of forgotten history of his dad's days in L.A. prior to his work here in Kelowna (at 1:16:00). You can watch the individual feature videos below.

video features

HISTORIC TERRAZZO INSTALLATION
Archival footage of terrazzo installation in Winnipeg in the 1920's by John Fabris and Son - courtesy of Mary Fabris
PETER'S - YOUR INDEPENDENT GROCER
We visit Peter's - Your Independent Grocer in the Capri Mall and talk to owner Peter Boyd about his floors and his friend, Victor Ghini
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
We visit Immaculate Conception Church and talk to caretaker Douglas Rasmussen about the durability of the floors and their contribution to the overall design.

SPECIAL GUESTS

JAVIER P. GROSSUTTI, Ph.D
For more history on the evolution of terrazzo and its impact on North American migration patterns, we recommend reading Javier Grossutti's article, which can be downloaded at the link above. It's only 22 pages (plus references) and is a fascinating read!
Javier's main fields of study include Italian and Friulian emigration; networks of ethnic entrepreneurship; migration, and (in) material knowledge. 
In 2000 he curated the Museum Section “Work and Emigration” in Cavasso Nuovo (Friuli) 
A list of his selected articles included:
From Guild Artisans to Entrepreneurs: The Long Path of Italian Marble Mosaic and Terrazzo Craftsmen (16th c. Venice – 20th c. New York City), in “International Labor and Working-Class History” journal, N° 100, Fall, 2021, pp. 60–86 
"Come uno spostarsi del talento verso l’opportunità”: Friulani in Canada, in Konrad Eisenbichler, Pasquale Sabbatino (Eds.),
​A Garland of Gifts: Essays in Honour of Olga Zorzi Pugliese, Welland, Ontario, Soleil, 2021, pp. 501-531.
Gerry Ghini
Gerry Ghini is the son of Victor and Gloria Ghini. From his childhood, he remembers Victor working on major terrazzo projects in LA, Seattle, Vancouver and - eventually - Kelowna. He's proud to share his memories of his father Victor - a man with an astounding work ethic and always a ready smile on his face. 
Mary Fabris
Mary Fabris's Italian roots on both sides go back to the turn of the last century. Her family has always been associated with the Italian community in Winnipeg through the family business and the Italian church. The Fabris Family ran a terrazzo and tile company in Winnipeg for decades. The company is still operating, although the family is no longer associated with it.  She takes great pride in her family’s Italian heritage.  
Picture
Terrazzo artwork in Los Angeles done by the Venetian Terrazo and Mosaic Company
PictureTerrazzo Craftsman Victor Ghini
Although it can be traced back to ancient mosaics in Egypt, Terrazzo became forever linked to Italian craftsmanship, especially the renowned terrazzo artists coming from the Friuli and Veneto regions. 

Javier Grossutti from Universit​à di Padova (via Zoom) gives us the historic background of Terrazzo craftsmanship, a subject he has been researching for years.

Mary Fabris will share some memories of her grandfather's terrazzo business in Winnipeg, as well as some extremely rare historical family movies of terrazzo being installed.

Then, Gerry Ghini (again via Zoom) will tell the story of his father -  a dear friend of KCIC - Victor Ghini. Victor was Kelowna's "Terrazzo Guy" - working on many of Kelowna's best known landmarks, including the Capri Centre Mall. But before Victor came to Kelowna, he perfected his craft up and down the Pacific Coast in Western Canada and the US, including work on LAX airport and Disneyland.
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