Quei de la Corte Nova
On April 11, 2025, Melissa McGill returned to Venice to collaborate with Massimiliano Smerghetto and the residents of Corte Nova in the Castello neighborhood of Venice to bring an event to life that celebrates memory, identity and neighborhood connection.
The title Quei de la Corte Nova is in Venetian dialect and translates to Those of Corte Nova. Corte Nova is located in the sestiere of Castello between Via Garibaldi and Arsenale (the neighborhood where the Biennale takes place). This artistic intervention was presented last week, taking form of community collaboration with Massimiliano Smerghetto and the residents of Corte Nova in the Castello neighborhood of Venice, a creative intervention life that celebrates memory, identity and neighborhood connection.
Corte Nova is well known for the criss-crossing of its laundry lines and enduring Venetian spirit. This one night open-air photographic exhibition featured images from the 1930s to today hanging on lines strung in the same manner, telling the story of this neighborhood and celebrating Venetian vibrancy resisting the intense pressure of over tourism. Between shared stories and collective memory, this visual interweaving presents the Venetian soul of Castello. The photographs featured range from 1930 to now and were generously provided by the local residents of Corte Nova themselves, La Gondola Photographic Archive in Venice featuring photographs by Etta Lisa Basaldella and Mario Mazziol, the archive of Associazione 3 Agosto, Marcella Ferrari and Melissa McGill.
The intervention was presented via Associazione Water Projects (a non-profit cultural association that I founded which aims to present civic, solidarity via creative community events and interventions) and with the contribution of associations and city institutions including: Associazione 3 Agosto, Lega Spi Cgil Venezia c.s. e Isole, La Gondola Photographic Archive, and the students of the Andrea Barbarigo Professional Institute, who catered the aperitivo for event.
Invitation designed by Beatriz Cifuentes.