Thirteen Indigenous artists are showing work at Villanova University's Art Gallery in a free exhibit that runs through Jan. 22, 2027.

"Hearts of the Harvest: Seeds, Stories, and Sovereignty" opened Sept. 14 on the second floor of the Connelly Center, 800 Lancaster Ave. The show spans painting, photography, film, performance, mixed media, leatherwork and larger installations, according to the Villanova University Art Gallery.

The exhibit grew from "Seeds We Bury," a 33-minute student documentary co-directed by Villanova students Olivia Hansen and Soledad Robins during the 2024–25 school year. A crew of 27 students traveled to the Philippines and Southampton, New York, during semester breaks to film the Ati tribe and the Shinnecock Nation as both communities fight to protect ancestral land.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named "Seeds We Bury" a finalist in the 53rd Student Academy Awards' documentary category, one of seven films chosen from 2,972 entries. The film did not receive a medal at the Sept. 14 ceremony in Toronto, according to the Academy. It was the fifth Villanova project to earn a Student Academy Awards finalist distinction, according to a university press release. The most recent, "Sankofa," won gold in 2019.

The student crew also raised more than $21,000 for sustainable initiatives in the Philippines and Southampton.

Jeremy Dennis, a Shinnecock Nation tribal member and executive director of Ma's House & BIPOC Art Studio Inc. in Southampton, guest curated the show. Dennis is also one of the featured artists.

"It's so important at a young age, when your mind is developing as a student, to see Native and Indigenous stories as something in the present tense," Dennis told the Villanovan. "It's not history. It's not something stuck in the past."

Among the other artists on display are Lisa Bowen, Heidi K. Brandow, Dennis RedMoon Darkeem, David Bunn Martine and Denise Silva-Dennis.

A free opening reception is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the gallery. Musical artist Isabel Vazquez, also a featured artist in the exhibit, will perform live. No tickets or reservations are required.

Upcoming

  • Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4–6 p.m. — Opening reception for "Hearts of the Harvest," Villanova University Art Gallery, Connelly Center, 800 Lancaster Ave. Free and open to the public.