Carroll Gardens will be undergoing a massive transformation in the next twenty years, as the older generation of Italians, Puerto Ricans and other once-large groups of working-class citizens dies off. Who will replace them is unknown, but I doubt it will be many working-class individuals. Photographer and artist Kurt Kietrich Wilberding is attempting to preserve and share some memories of his views of Italian-Americans in Carroll Gardens in his show "Valentino's Children".
Excerpt and Photo from the
Brooklyn Paper:
"“I would see one woman everyday that lives down the street from me, Milly. She is 95-years-old and has lived here all her life,” said Wilberding. “When you come across someone like Milly, you start to wonder, ‘Who else is around that has seen how this neighborhood has changed? What was it once like? What has been improved? What has been lost?’ ”
The resulting show, which is named after the Italian actor Rudolph Valentino and Louis Valentino Jr., a local fireman who died in the line of duty, is a collection of portraits of older generation Italian-Americans and mementos of things dear to them, such as passports."
“Valentino’s Children” at Acres Gallery [114 Smith St. between Pacific and Dean streets in Carroll Gardens (Ed - Most definitely NOT Carroll Gardens), (917) 428-3810], Dec. 10-Jan. 23. For info, visit acresbrooklyn.org.
