​RECAPITULATION: THE STORY OF SVEVA CAETANI

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
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The Caetani story illuminates many issues that still resonate today: art, history, immigration, colonization, mental health, overcoming adversity, and celebrating the human creative spirit.

Descending from Italian royalty, Sveva Caetani represented the last of an ancient line that traces its roots back over 1,000 years and includes two medieval popes and noted politicians, academics, artists, writers, and musicians.

2021 marks the 100th anniversary year since the family immigrated from Italy to Canada. The patriarch, Leone Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta, and his 16 other titles, was a parliamentarian and celebrated scholar of Islam. With the rise in fascism following WWI, out of all the places in the world he had travelled, he chose Vernon.

Leaving Italy abruptly and under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the small family arrived on the shores of Okanagan Landing by paddlewheel with 33 trunks. There, they would live a life of wealth, privilege, travel and luxury throughout the Roaring Twenties until the economic crash of 1929 decimated their fortunes.

Following the death of Leone in 1935, the story takes an ominous and disturbing turn as the young Sveva was kept a prisoner in her own home for over 25 years by her mother, Ofelia. Both mother and daughter were devastated by Leone’s death. 

After Ofelia's death in 1960, Sveva rediscovered the world outside and would go on to become one of Canada's most treasured artists. ​
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Special Guest: Susan Brandoli

​​Susan Brandoli is an artist, writer, curator and lecturer living in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.
Brandoli is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program, Interdisciplinary (Visual Arts and Critical Theory), Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, and also holds degrees in History (BA), and Visual Arts (BFA, distinction) from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan. She has been with the Caetani Cultural Centre since January, 2013.

Brandoli has taught as a sessional instructor in Visual Arts at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops. Brandoli served as the Director/Curator of the Vernon Public Art Gallery Society for twelve years, and was co-owner of the Fugitive Gallery, Vernon, BC. Brandoli worked at the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, Sask., and was a founding member of Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre, Regina, Sask.
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