The Renaissance School Celebrates Black History with Art, Music, Literature
Published: February, 2007
Oakland, CA – The Renaissance School and Jack London Square are working together to present a series of events celebrating Black History.
In early February, The Renaissance School, in Oakland, will hold an art exhibit titled, Through the Eyes of Children: Unique Perspectives on Art as Black History, which employs a uniquely global artistic approach to Black History, by demonstrating the various influences of African art. This display, featuring the art of The Renaissance School students, aged 2 through 15 years, will be featured at 472 Water Street in Jack London Square, near Barnes & Noble. Through the Eyes of Children will open at 11 am on Sunday, February 11, 2007, and will be on display for the remainder of February. Additional gallery hours will be held throughout February.
On Fri., Feb. 3, from 2- 6PM, The Renaissance School will play host to From the Hearts of Black Artists: Reflections of a Culture, inside the event loft of Barnes & Noble in Jack London Square. The featured art, all of which is being donated to a silent auction for the school, will be that of many local African American artists, including Beverly Chenier, Charles Bibbs, Christopher Carter (Maverix Studios), Cozetta Guinn (NBARI Art), Ed Bell (Maverix Studios), Frank Frazier, Linda Townsend-Bryson (It’s Our Business), Malik Senefru, Mark Sublett, Monica Stewart, Phyllis Stephens and Vaughn Ross (Maverix Studios). These artists were invited to participate in the event by P.J. Herring (Herring Fine Art), a prominent private collector of African American art in Oakland. The silent art auction will be held in conjunction with a multimedia display of black Americans that influenced American history. The Renaissance School Elementary Choir and Oakland’s Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church Gospel choir will also perform.
The Renaissance School’s Soul Food Sunday will take place the following weekend on Sun., Feb. 11, and will be held once again inside the event loft of Barnes & Noble from 11AM-5PM. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste Soul Food from the kitchens of parents, relatives and friends of The Renaissance School, and there will be a performance by The Renaissance School Elementary Chorus. Bryant Terry, renowned chef and author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, will host a discussion, titled In Search of Soul Grub: African-American Heritage Cooking in the 21st Century. Terry will also be on hand to sign copies of his book. Local African drummer Mosheh Milon, Jr. of Blackstone Productions will also perform and will host a children’s African drumming workshop. Actor Gregory Bonds will also be on hand to host an African Story Time for children.
Leslie Hites, Head of The Renaissance School, is particularly excited about embarking upon these events in February as a way of celebrating Black culture. One of the founding premises of The Renaissance School was to provide an international center of culture to the East Bay community, she says. We are grateful to Jack London Square for the opportunity to participate in the multicultural richness of the area in which we live.
The Renaissance School
The Renaissance School was founded in 1992 by Leslie Hites, originally as A Child’s World Montessori School. Based on the philosophies of Maria Montessori and Zoltan Kodály, the school has grown over the past 15 years into a warm, loving community of students, families, and teachers committed to giving their children a world-class education. With an enrollment of about 150 students ranging from preschool through eighth grade, the Renaissance School is a multicultural and multilingual community with a particular dedication to foreign language immersion and to the arts. The international faculty and student body represent more than 30 different countries and nearly every ethnic group and major world religion.
Jack London Square
Jack London Square is a microcosm of all that Oakland is – and is in the process of becoming. Charming and historic, it’s located where our city first began in 1852. Lively and entertaining, it reflects the vitality and diversity of our culture. Nestled in a natural estuary, it offers inspiring views of our beautiful 19 mile waterfront and lush hillsides. It’s a focal point for outstanding shopping, entertainment and dining as well as a gathering place for residents and visitors, children and adults, joggers and bike riders. It’s urban living at its most fulfilling and Oakland at its very best. www.jacklondonsquare.com
