Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943
Phil Stern Pavilion
Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943
PHIL STERN PROJECT
Over one hundred photographs by the great American photographer, who landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943 with American troops during Operation Husky, are on display at the Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943 in the space dedicated to him created by the OELLE Mediterraneo Antico ETS Foundation and curated by the historian Ezio Costanzo .
The Phil Stern Pavilion is part of the museum itinerary and is located in the Le Ciminiere complex in Catania. Set up with private funds by the Oelle Foundation, it is an act of love from its president, Ornella Laneri, towards the great American photographer after his return to Sicily in 2013, at the age of 94, to inaugurate his personal exhibition of photographs on the Second World War on the island. Stern, during his visit to the historical museum, had expressed the desire to exhibit some of his war photos inside the structure. His wish was granted and today, with its 300 square meters of space and over 100 photographs on display, the Pavilion represents an important cultural reality in Catania.
September 25, 2017
Pavilion Inauguration
Interview with Ornella Laneri and Ezio Costanzo
1943/2013
THE RETURN TO SICILY
AFTER SEVENTY YEARS
In 2013, seventy years after landing with the American soldiers of the Rangers as a war photographer, Phil Stern returns to Sicily to inaugurate the personal exhibition of photographs on Sicily in 1943, an international event conceived and curated by the historian Ezio Costanzo and produced by the Fondazione Gruppo Credito Valtellinese. 70 unpublished images taken by Stern during the war in Sicily are exhibited. A journey into the past to retrace the places where he witnessed a great moment in history.
During Stern's stay in Sicily, Ezio Costanzo made a documentary film about the great American photographer. "Phil Stern. Sicily 1943, the war and the soul", which contains Stern's last long interview-narration. It will be broadcast by Rai Storia a few days after the photographer's death, which occurred on December 13, 2014. The film is an exceptional document of Stern's life and his last journey to the places where he was "young and indestructible".
The Pavilion and the Stern Collection
The photographic collection on display at the Pavilion consists of 120 photographs taken in North Africa (1942) and Sicily (1943).
A space is also dedicated to the images of Hollywood stars immortalized during his long career dedicated to cinema.
Other temporary exhibitions
The Phil Stern Pavilion contains a large exhibition space dedicated to temporary exhibitions on the theme of the Second World War and memory, including in a contemporary key, created in collaboration with international historical archives, private collectors, and public institutions.
The archive and research
The photographic archive (original negatives) that the Stern family entrusted to the historian Ezio Costanzo and the OELLE Foundation for digitization, study and cataloguing is today a significant cultural heritage and is available to photography scholars and students.
