In September of 2024, eight current and former students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) visited the Newberry to see and learn about the items on display in Making an Impression: Immigrant Printing in Chicago. In response, each student created their own broadside designs to share with exhibition visitors. The artist's statement below accompanies their finished broadside and explains the artist's style, approach, and intentions.
Immigrants have shaped the diverse and vibrant country we live in today. Although I am not an immigrant, I have had the privilege of being born into a family of dedicated immigrants on both my mother's and father’s side. As I considered the many facets of this project, I became intrigued by the untold immigrant stories many of us carry. Some may be tales with embellishment, while others are complex, intricate narratives of work, love, pain, and displacement.
I’ve witnessed these stories firsthand growing up with my Great-Grandma Leda, the owner of a small family pizzeria in rural Dixon, Illinois, which she started with her beloved husband, my late Great-Grandpa Albert. This piece is dedicated to my Great-Grandpa Albert’s father, my Great-Great-Grandpa Ubaldo (whose name translates to Albert in the U.S.). He started a confectionery shop in Chicago in the early 1900s, Bartolomei & Bartolomei Confectionery. As the story has been told, Ubaldo “invented” the sundae, but could not purchase or obtain any patents due to the incredibly high costs. The image on the front features his shop located at 1228 Milwaukee Ave, revealing three sundaes placed along the bar. He made countless candies which were likely adapted into “toppings” for those sundaes. I wanted to uplift the story that has been passed along to me, by creating a newspaper advertisement announcing the sundae and where to find it.
Many stories within immigrant families are left untold, often gaps in their narrative because of time or other external circumstances overshadowing these events. The power, accessibility, and historical significance of printing are immense, and I am grateful that I’ve had the privilege to learn and contribute to this art form. While I might not know if he was truly the first to invent the sundae in the state or even the country, he was a hardworking and determined immigrant, with a confectionery shop that I wish to share. Immigrants have long lived in Chicago neighborhoods creating beautiful art and goods, delicious food, and strong communities. The ability to print preserves narratives and creates lasting memories. With this project, I hope to encapsulate these two themes that are deeply rooted in Chicago.