Artisans of Peace Retreat: BLM Art Tour with Sr. Helen David Brancato, IHM - Part 1

This video is part of the Artisans of Peace Retreat, hosted by Campus Ministry September 28-October 4, 2020. As part of this retreat, which explores the intersection of art, creativity, spirituality, peace and justice, we interviewed one of Villanova’s own “artisans of peace” - Sr. Helen David Brancato, IHM. She is a painter, printmaker, illustrator, and retired associate professor of art at Villanova University. Her work carries themes of justice, peace, and homelessness; many of her works are featured prominently in St. Rita Hall, Corr Hall, and other campus spaces. She writes that her most recent exhibition is “my visual way to affirm and support ‘Black Lives Matter’.” She continues, “This show displays twenty of my paintings depicting the people who have enriched my life at the Southwest Community Enrichment Center in Southwest Philadelphia. I describe my fourteen years there as a university of life where I experienced great wisdom, generous hospitality, warmth and exceptional talent. My hope is that my paintings reveal the dignity and the beauty I found in the Black Community on 46th Street.”
In this first video, Michelle Sherman (Campus Minister for Retreats) and Greg Blanc (Campus Ministry Intern) tour Sr. Helen David’s Art Studio and Black Lives Matter Art Exhibition. Part two of this video series includes the post-tour interview with the artist.
Video has closed captions, please “CC” to read along with the audio.