"Reunion" exhibit at the Hub-Robeson Center explores survival resilience and hope through art

At the HUB-Robeson Galleries, “Reunion,” a multi-level exhibition by Cannupa Hanska Luger, brings together sculpture, fashion and digital media to tell a story of survival, resilience and hope.

At the heart of the exhibit is the bison – a symbol of freedom, sustenance and survival for various Indigenous cultures.

Robert Sparrow Jones is the curator and senior gallery manager at the HUB-Robeson Galleries. He said that bison serve as a central symbol in Cannupa Hanska Luger’s “Reunion” exhibit.

“I think that Cannupa is using bison as a symbol of freedom for many Indigenous cultures. For him, I think they represent sustenance and survival. They have an agency and a real immersive power, and so I think there’s a profound history to be learned.”

Phoenix Jenkins is a second-year student and gallery assistant. She said it’s important for people to understand Cannupa both as an artist and a person.

“He is from the Standing Rock reservation, and he’s done a lot of work, specifically during the Pipeline Protests that happened a couple of years back. He’s a great artist, and he’s just a great person in general.”

The exhibition doesn’t just celebrate the bison – it mourns the near loss of this species while envisioning a future built on gratitude and kinship. Cannupa Hanska Luger describes the work as a reflection on the complexity of survival and the possibilities of a sustainable future.

With pieces like “Blood In The Soil” and “(Be)Longing,” visitors are encouraged to reflect on the interconnectedness of humans, nature and the past.

“Reunion” is open now at the HUB-Robeson Galleries, offering visitors a powerful opportunity to engage with history and reimagine the future.

Gavin Rollman is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gmr5526@psu.edu.