The Callisto exhibition titled Live and Love the Italian Way features 35 carefully selected photographs curated by his wife, Claudia. The exhibition opened as part of the Adelaide Italian Festival on Sunday, 10 November and will move to the City of Charles Sturt Hindmarsh Library on Saturday (23 November 2024) where you can meet Claudia.
Callisto, who passed away unexpectedly in 2022, had a deep passion for everything Italian — from his heritage and culture to the people — combined this love with his enthusiasm for photography, which began at the age of 16 when his parents gifted him his first Pentax professional camera.
The exhibition includes highlights from a solo five-day photography workshop Callisto took in Puglia, a surprise gift from Claudia, as well as images from other trips to Italy and his home in Rostrevor. Claudia described the process of selecting the photos as “difficult” and “emotional”, with enough material for five exhibitions.
“I hope I’m not just biased because he was my John… but I think he was truly talented,” Claudia says. “He was humble about it though and often downplayed everything. Looking at his photos always made me feel like he was still beside me.”
As an Australian-Italian cultural storyteller, including podcaster, Fringe performer, and author of The Good Italian Girl, Claudia was determined to honour John’s legacy. “I want to make sure his memory stays alive in the hearts and minds of family, friends, and perhaps people all over the world. His photographs carry his personal signature, which I designed.”
The exhibition will remain at the City of Charles Sturt Hindmarsh Library until 22 January 2025 when it travels to Melbourne’s newly opened Gallery Unbound in Northcote.
Unframed reprints of John Callisto’s work will be available to order at the exhibitions or directly through Claudia.
Hear Claudia tell the story behind the Live and Love the Italian Way exhibition at City of Charles Sturt Hindmarsh Library on Saturday (23 November). Book tickets here.
