Just in time for Mother's Day, there's a heart-warming new exhibit at the Fringe Club Fotogalerie called 'Legacies: Our Grandmothers Ourselves' organised by education expert Gina Valle (above). The show is based on the Canadian author's own book on immigrant families and the struggles and sacrifices of various grannies. The 1999 publication touches on issues of identity, culture, language and generational divides, but the 24 portraits say even more.
'There's a big difference when people speak about mothers versus grandmothers,' Valle explains. 'Being one generation removed, there's a lot less issues and tension. Secondly, when people get older they tend to put things in more perspective than when they're busy parents.
'Cultures and languages tend to be passed down by women. More than likely a kid will speak the language of the mum better than the dad. Language retention is stronger from mother to child. My own parents went to Canada from Italy after the war, and my grandmother joined us in the 1960s. At one point, she was the only person I was consistently speaking Italian with.'
Valle's photo exhibition continues until May 20.
