James Casebere makes table-sized structural models of surrealistic architecture on stilts, and then photographs them as if they’d been sited in a flood zone. “It feels like an expression of the indomitable human spirit,” he explains. “These things could be rising out of the water like the first creatures to emerge from the sea and live on solid ground.” The marooned buildings are inviting, yet they inhabit waters of uncertainty. It’s a powerful message about the dangers of global warming. As Casebere cautions, “we can’t afford to throw our hands up in … resignation.” —E.C.