Los Angeles as a Cabinet of Curiosities
Our project is deeply inspired by the Tzedakah principles of Justice. As an urban collective comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles in Los Angeles, we aimed to create an art piece that embodies the intersections of nature, art, equity, and the city's diversity. We were motivated by two driving questions: How is access to nature an environmental justice issue and How might the notion of justice be extended to the more-than-human members, such as plants and wildlife, living in our urban communities? By asking these questions we were able to reflect on the unique stories and relationships that Angelenos have with nature. Throughout this project, we have aimed to convey the idea that we are not separate from nature; it surrounds us even amid Los Angeles's urban sprawl.
Why Environmental Justice?
Environmental injustice is not a new phenomenon in Los Angeles. It has a long history of perpetuating injustice among Black, Brown, and low-income individuals, leaving these communities 'locked out' of nature. These injustices persist because they were systematically embedded into our society by federal agencies like the Federal Housing Administration and the US Housing Authority. These agencies employed practices that upheld segregation and contributed to the racial wealth gap. While many laws now prohibit overt discrimination that perpetuates environmental injustices, the discriminatory legacy of instruments like redlining lingers today. In the case of South Central Los Angeles, environmental injustice manifests as a lack of access to green spaces and being surrounded by food deserts.
The legacy of redlining is especially visible in Los Angeles communities, with many neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles finding themselves 'locked out' of nature due to limited access to parks, insufficient green coverage, and the high cost of accessing clean green spaces. Growing up in these neighborhoods, alumni and staff of the Nature Nexus Institute (NNI) afterschool programs shared their perspectives on being “locked out” of nature:
Brian, a program participant and current staff, reflected on his experience, saying, 'Growing up deep in the city, you develop this notion that nature exists outside city limits. The idea that one must escape the city to reintegrate one's self into nature. Working in habitat restoration as a high schooler not only broke that notion, it showed me that there are people giving everything they have to keep nature in the city.'
Johanna, another participant, added, 'Not every person I knew had access to nature. I saw how the environment and animals were affected by humans making new buildings without thinking about the consequences. It made me think about how nice it would be if the animals had a safe bridge full of plants to travel from one habitat to the next within the city.'
Azul emphasized, 'Not every community has equal access to nature in LA. More people deserve the right to have somewhere to decompress and feel free in the city.’
Los Angeles as a Cabinet of Curiosity, was a way for us to bring awareness of environment. Despite the barriers that members of our collective have faced to access nature, we love the natural world within Los Angeles. We envision a more environmentally just future where nature and community are celebrated.
Our Objective
Los Angeles as a Cabinet of Curiosities seeks to promote environmental justice by uniquely engaging viewers. We utilize the concept of a cabinet of curiosity to encourage active participation and interaction with our project. Our symbolic approach delves into two key themes: "locked out" and "locked in." The first theme explores the sense of exclusion that many individuals feel concerning the natural world, highlighting the barriers that society often causes between people and nature. The second theme, "locked in," delves into the confinement that our more-than-human members experience due to urbanization and habitat destruction, shedding light on the impact of human activities on the environment.
Our primary objective is to foster a stronger connection between individuals and nature while advocating for environmental justice. By sharing our team's fascination with local ecology, including the plants and creatures we have encountered in our work and daily lives, we hope to inspire viewers to reflect on their relationship with nature in an urban environment. We believe that cultivating feelings of delight and curiosity serves as powerful counter-narratives to the often alarming environmental news we encounter regularly. Moreover, these emotions serve as gateways to engage with the natural world.
We are convinced that forging connections with nature is a vital component of building a stronger community, enhancing spiritual well-being, and supporting mental and physical health. Los Angeles as a Cabinet of Curiosities strives to provoke thoughtful reflection and dialogue on environmental justice, offering viewers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities to coexistence with the natural world.
