Ray Au’Clair Studio to host batik workshop in St Ann

ON SATURDAY, May 24, Ray Au’Clair Jadire Studio in Lydford, St Ann will be hosting two batik-making (dying) workshops, one from 9 a.m. to noon, and the other from 1 to 4 p.m. Prospective participants may choose one or the other session.

The facilitator/trainer is Nella Stewart, one of several people who were trained at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) by Nigerian cultural diplomat to Jamaica, Alao Luqman Omotayo, the pioneer of Jadiré, under the Technical Aids Corps of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria.

Jadiré, known as Jamaican adiré, was derived from combining the J from Jamaica with the Yoruba word, adiré, meaning ‘tie-and-dye textile’. It is an indigo-dyed cloth made mainly in southwest Nigeria by Yoruban women using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques. Stewart will train participants how to do the batik wax-resist technique (Jadirealabela) to create functional Jadire textile.

In Africa, cloths represent cultural identity and they are viewed as the products of technology, cultural symbolism, works of art, or as items of trade. The Jadiré fabrics then represent the said concepts; the fabrics produced by Stewart and others are printed with Jamaican motifs to identify them as Jamaican batik fabrics, Jadiré. And Stewart is one of the beneficiaries of the training at the JBDC to embark upon producing Jadire textile commercially.

In late 2023, Stewart and three other former trainees – Jacquline Brown, Simone Gordon and Charmaine Brown – hosted an exposé of batik fabrics and many items made from such at the Regional Headquarters of The University of the West Indies along Hermitage Road in St Andrew.

At the launch, she told The Gleaner, “It’s a privilege to participate in an exhibition like this, simply because of the skills I have learned … It’s a very rewarding experience, and the building of my skills is the culmination of this exhibition. I think this is an eye-opener for me and other exhibitors, because it shows us that we can go further.” And farther she has gone, into conducting her own workshops.

“The space (Ray Au’Clair Jadiré Studio) emerges as a vibrant hub dedicated to the art of textile design, which aims to nurture creativity, preserve Jamaican cultural heritage, and empower local artisans through the intricate craft of the Jadiré resist-dyeing technique. Last year, Stewart was the recipient of grant funds through the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) BIGEE Jamaica Business Fund ... to support this great innovation,” Alao told The Gleaner.

“Ray Au’Clair Jadiré Studio is more than just a creative space; it’s a platform for economic empowerment, providing training and resources that would equip local artisans with the skills needed to produce high-quality Jadiré textile. This initiative not only preserves a significant cultural art form, but also opens avenues for entrepreneurship and sustainability livelihoods within the community,” he said.

With over 30 years of experience at the management level, Nella Stewart retired from heading The University of West Indies Project Management Office in 2019, when she ventured into textile design (tie-and-dye/batik and printing) under the tutelage of Alao and became one of the leading textile designers in the up-and-running Jadiré cottage industry.

“Looking ahead, Ray Au’Claire Jadire Studio envisions expanding its reach, offering workshops, exhibitions, and collaborations that celebrate the rich tapestry of Jamaican and African textile traditions. Through these efforts, the studio aspires to position itself as a beacon of creativity and cultural exchange, contributing to the global appreciation of textile arts,” Alao also said.

“Stewart is a founding member of the Jadiré textile initiative, which aims to establish a sustainable cottage industry in Jamaica. Her participation in exhibitions, such as the Festival of the Cloth, Conversation on Jadiré and the Jadiré Exposé at The University of the West Indies and many others, has been instrumental in promoting this innovative textile art form,” he added.