Venice Ghetto Possibly 1991 - 2001

James Casebere constructed this photograph of the Venice Ghetto using simple materials, primarily plaster, which he then photographed. These are not traditional art materials, nor are they industrial or high-tech. Casebere engages with the humbleness of craft. The flat, matte surface of the plaster gives the image a ghostly, almost ethereal quality, as if we are seeing a memory rather than a physical place. The monochrome tonality enhances this effect, emphasizing the formal geometry of the buildings, their stark facades punctuated by rows of windows. The labor is in the making of the model; its hand-crafted quality evident in the slightly uneven surfaces and the subtle variations in form. The social significance is profound; the Venice Ghetto was, of course, a site of forced segregation and confinement. By using humble materials, Casebere encourages us to reflect on the history embedded within the architecture. He blurs the boundaries between sculpture, photography, craft, and fine art, prompting reflection on the relationship between materials, making, and history.