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Bridget Breidenbach
I believe That Peter Leigh’s “The ecological crisis, the human condition, and community based restoration as an instrument for its cure” is very similar to Claudia Bernardi’s “Artist as Citizen of the World, Vision and Alternatives: The Act of Creativity.” as well as very different.
Most obviously one is a scientist, and the other, an artist. Peter Leigh is the scientist, and Claudia Bernardi is the artist. I would like to first analyze the definition of both of these professions. A scientist is understood as an expert in science, especial one of the physical or natural sciences. An artist however, has many different definitions; A person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, or sculptor. Being aware of the differences can become difficult, and when examining Bernardi’s work and Leigh’s work the lines between science and art begin to blur.
In 1984, a forensic anthropology team was created in Argentina to provide evidence of disregard of human rights was carried out against civilian populations. Claudia Bernardi felt inclined to return home to Argentina to work with Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team. Bernardi ascertained the scientific methods of handling human remains.
Claudia Bernardi then created archeological maps for this project. She also recorded the proof for families of the disappeared ones. She then decided to take all of her knowledge and created art that could be used to inform others of these tragedies. Bernardi is recognized as a human rights activist as well as a social justice activist. She has witnessed misfortune and many human tragedies. But instead of making work exclusively about these instances, she creates art based on the idea of integrity and hope for humanity.
Bernardi’s practice is much like Peter Leigh’s in the way that she utilized science to gain knowledge that she then made art about.
Peter Leigh comes from a far more scientific point of view. Although both Bernardi and Leigh both want to help and change the world, Leigh wishes to improve a different aspect of humanity. Leigh is creating a “community-bases restoration” which addresses environmental governance by infusing an eco-ethics into American culture.
Leigh recognizes the environmental and problems based off of scientific facts which are researched. Leigh wants to help the people, but giving them the knowledge they need to help the world. He wishes to “animate local communities to organize and task themselves with protecting and restoring their own jurisdictions without being forced to do so by central agencies.” So in other words, Leigh wants people to examine their own priorities, and recognize why taking care of the earth we live one should be one.
Most would look at Peter Leigh’s practice as purely scientific, but when examined hard enough you see he is (maybe be he isn’t even aware of it) a practicing artist. He wants to show people the information and the ways you can help preserve what we have left and restore what we had. He is attempting to create something beautiful in the world. Artists are problem solvers, and to recognize a social and ecological issue and then change something in a positive way is artistic.
Although their issues and methods are different, Peter Leigh and Claudia Bernardi are more alike then the first seem. Their goals to improve a horrific situation are the biggest uniting factor.
