- February 16, 2025
Loading
Don Harrell of Orisirisi introduces pieces from the Bronze Kingdom traveling exhibit to students at Tildenville Elementary School.
Alexa Valentine takes a closer look at the bronze artwork.
Jason McConnell Jr., Alexa Valentine, Daniella Vargas and Shaylee Kilmartin try out the ancient African instrument.
Daniella Vargas and Shaylee Kilmartin inspect an African mask.
Don Harrell shares the purpose of the art pieces with Perla Velazquez- Rangel and Jenifer Napoles.
Bre’Anna Minniefield and Alexa Bishop find out what this instrument sounds like.
Dr. Linnett Jones, a Tildenville Elementary teacher, demonstrates the use of an instrument to Lauren Lopez, Gabrielle Osiniski and Angelo Rojas.
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.