Exhibition on Creativity and WWII Italian POWs in the US Opens Soon

Dr. Laura E. Ruberto and Dr. Joseph Sciorra have curated the exhibition Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute (Queens College, City University of New York) in Midtown Manhattan. The exhibit presents the creative work and material culture made by Italian soldiers who were imprisoned by the Allied forces during World War II, focusing on those held in the United States. These objects, often made from salvaged materials, ranged in size from a small inlaid ring to a large Catholic chapel with a 65-foot bell tower.

The exhibition brings together a selection of objects, images, and stories to present this little-known history. Highlighting the artistry of incarcerated Italian servicemen (some of whom maintained allegiance to Fascism) is not meant to trivialize the atrocities of war or to minimize the resistance of those who fought at great sacrifice. Rather, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the myriad ways that identity and imagination are shaped materially during the adverse conditions of war.

The exhibit will open on May 1, 2025 and remain on view until September 26, 2025.