African art makes stop at Tildenville Elementary

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

Students at Tildenville Elementary experienced a hands-on exhibit of African art from the Benin Kingdom of West Africa during Black History Month. Dr. Linnett Jones, first-grade teacher at Tildenville, writes a grant each year to have black-history programs brought to the school.

“I believe that knowledge is not knowledge until you share it,” Jones said.

The media center was set up like a museum, and Don Harrell talks about the artwork and allows students to touch and pick up the pieces. Harrell is co-founder of Orisirisi African Folklore, an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida and a Bronze Kingdom Art Investment Consultant.

This year’s Black History Month at Tildenville also included a luncheon for teachers and staff and a curriculum night.

Bronze Kingdom is an 8,000-square-foot gallery-museum that possesses the largest collection of rare African bronze sculpture in the world, beaded and wood sculptures from all over the African continent and grand palatial pieces from the Benin and Bamoun tribal kingdoms dating back to the early 1600s.

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Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.