46 | theburgnews.com | 08.18
G
uglielmo Botter may be Italian-born in and
living in Treviso, a small city near Venice.
But he is also an American, thanks to his
late mother's family, with dual citizenship.
Someday, Botter would like to relocate to the United
States, but for now, he spends a great deal of time
making sketches of landmarks in numerous American
towns and cities—finishing the drawings back in Italy
and exhibiting them in their home locations.
Among the cities whose landmarks he has drawn
are Harrisburg and Lancaster, where his work will be
shown in two separate exhibits beginning in August.
"My great-grandfather Francesco left the Italian
Alps in 1892 at the age of 16 to find a better life in
the United States, and, after landing at Ellis Island, he
decided to settle in the Pittsburgh area," Botter said.
"He worked hard as a miner for many years until 1900,
when he finally got his U.S. citizenship. at same year,
he was joined by his young Italian girlfriend, whom he
married on Christmas Eve 1900."
Botter's grandmother was born in West Lebanon, Pa.,
holding American citizenship.
"She grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and soon
distinguished herself for her artistic talents, so much so
that she got a scholarship from Penn State University,"
Botter said. "However, she preferred to return to Italy
to attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, where
she fell in love with an Italian fresco artist who taught
there."
cuLture
