The "A Birthday Wish For A Friend And Artist" Story

Henderson Reece working on one of his batiks.

It was an ordinary day.  Just received an email from Henderson Reece who happened to have just celebrated his birthday.  Being that he is one of my Facebook friends I wished him a Happy Birthday as I do with all my friends.  He in return sent me a nice reply that read:  "Thanks for your support and your support for Bajan art."  I met Henderson over ten years ago when Carol and I, along with friends Jere and Sue, visited the island of Barbados for the first time.

Hendy stands in front of his studio and gallery in Barbados.

 While motoring around the island we came upon his art gallery and I was hooked on his work.  Henderson was born in St. Michael, Barbados, and is mostly self-taught with a dab of formal training at The Barbados Community College where he earned a G.C.E certificate in A' level Art.  

Henderson with the first batik we purchased from him.

Hendy, as many call him, began his art career in oil and watercolor, but for the past thirty odd years has been immersed in the Batik medium.  During our first visit to his studio and gallery Carol and I purchased a Batik print that we just loved.  The piece features two Caribbean homes amongst palms.  I got to watch him work on a few pieces he was in the midst of finishing and fell in love with the art of Bajan batik.  About the simplest definition I can give you about the art of batik is: A wax resist technique for producing designs on a white or light colored fabric.  Batik is used extensively in Indonesia, Java, China, Japan, central and Eastern Asia and Africa but not so much so in the United States.  The word "BATIK" relates to the word "TITIK" which is an Indonesian word for 'paint', 'dot', or 'drop'.  An important distinction is made between "TULIS" and "TJAP" Batik. "TJAP" describes batik where the wax is applied by a copper stamp called the Tjap while "TULIS" designates the type of batik where the Tjanting is used to apply wax to fabric.  Unlike the copper stamp the Tjanting allows the artist the freedom of drawing by hand producing a more personal, unique and expressive piece of work.  The Tjanting is a Javanese invention that is a small vessel made of thin copper with one or more capillary spouts and handle shaped from wood.  

The second of our batiks by Henderson.

The size of the spouts varies from vessel to vessel making drawing with the Tjanting a process which requires immense skill.  A video follows at the end of my story that will show you one of his workshops where he is teaching the art of batik.  Well, we loved the island of Barbados so much that the four of us eventually returned to the island.  And, once again we traveled to Hendy's gallery for a visit.  Just couldn't leave without another of his beautiful pieces; this one featuring simple bamboo shoots. They both are featured on the walls of our home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

Batik by Tiffany Barrett.

A few years ago, while on a trip to Nassau in the Bahamas Carol and I purchased another smaller batik from a street vendor.  Tiffany Barrett, a native of the Bahamas, was introduced to batik at the age of 8 at St. Andrews School.  She was actually self-taught and seems to capture the kaleidoscope of colors reflected in her native Bahamian environment in her typically unique style.  

Tiffany Barrett

She refers to her batiks as "Tiffographs".  The print we purchased from her was titled "Dancing Triggers" and features two triggerfish interacting.  The print is not as complex as the two we have from Henderson, but still illustrates the art of batik.  I love all mediums in art as well as the art of photography, but my two favorites are the pair we purchased from Henderson Reece.  On our second visit Hendy asked if I could join him that evening for a drink at the local pub, but it was our final evening and we couldn't afford the time.  Perhaps if we ever return to his home I will have that chance to share a drink with him.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.