A little girl named Twilla peers from the past into a historic two-story house in east Fort Worth.

Looking into her gaze is like traveling back in time to the days when little girls played outside while their grandmothers hung bedsheets to dry in the wind.

Today, the house is a museum and Twilla is a creation in wood-cut art. The little girl is the vision of Dallas artist Evita Tezeno, who was inspired by a relative who never relied on a dryer.

“It always reminds me of my grandmother,” Tezeno said, explaining how the image has ties to Port Arthur, too. “I loved my grandmother.”

Twilla is on display this month at the Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum. She is in the company of different artworks showcased during Black History Month. The exhibit is titled “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.”

“We are celebrating 100 years of black history, whether it is in pop culture, literature or history” or politics, said Brenda Sanders-Wise, executive director of the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society.

Among works on display is the textile art of Laverne Brackens, an improvisational quilter who was a 2011 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.

Organizers said the exhibit honors local artists while helping inspire a new generation of artists. The event also lets people learn about African-American culture and history through art.

“Art is very important,” Sanders-Wise said. “It helps people express what they can’t say in words.”

CARRIED AWAY BY ART

In the art piece Milk and Honey, a serious man emerges from colorful images depicting the temptations brought by personal success. The images surrounding the man’s face include dollar bills, bees and yellow robots symbolizing loss of identity.

Dallas artist Ebony Lewis said her art carries a social warning — be wary of the land of milk and honey because it can steal your identity.

“Robots are representative of what we try not to be,” Lewis said, explaining some of the symbolism.

Throughout Black History Month, visitors to the Lenora Rolla museum can see the works of featured artists with Texas ties. Other artists include Robert L. Berry Jr., Jerron Caruthers, Eddie Carter Sr., U. Crosby, LaToya Fisher, Sederick Huckaby, Anita May, G.M. Webb and E.L. Young.

Sanders-Wise said visitors to the exhibit will find a variety of art, including jewelry, sculptures, canvas, watercolor and jazz expression. Among the works on display is a colorful quilt by Laverne Brackens, who uses fabric to make artful quilts.

“It keeps me busy,” said Brackens, explaining that sometimes her works start with a vision and other times she just lets the art carry her away.

“Sometimes, you pick the material and start working with it,” said Brackens, 87. “You just let the material take you where it wants to go.”

SHOWING ART TO THE COMMUNITY

This year’s event includes the second annual juried art show and exhibition organized by the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society. Young artists from Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary School and Dunbar Middle School competed in the contest.

The works of first-place winners will be on display this month at the museum alongside professional artists. Artists said this helps provide role models for a new generation of artists while promoting the importance of art.

Young artists tapped into history, pop culture and everyday life in their art.

Sanders-Wise said students from Dunbar Middle School made sculptures to commemorate Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman, the first female pilot of African-American descent. A third-grade student from Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary School drew the art teacher, while another made a portrait of singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams. The image alludes to Williams’ popular song Happy.

“They drew a current music artist,” Sanders-Wise said, pointing to a picture of Williams with a happy face smiling from above his head. “…He is happpppeee.”