One of the things I have enjoyed most about Tanzania and Kenya has been learning about how small businesses survive and thrive. 

I learned a lot from a good friend of mine, Filex Jacobson.  Filex has been passionate about art since he was a child.  It is what makes him happy and he is good at it.  He has told me about how he used to sit at his father’s feet drawing pictures as a youngster, and how as an adult, his father disowned him because he wanted to be a professional artist instead of a driver, mechanic or other form of “normal” work in Arusha.  Filex did not give up and he struggled to get the resources for training in several art forms, including that of the Batik painting. 

Batiks are made with a special wax painting process and a layering of different paint colors.  Originally from Indonesia, the Batik was used as a form of communication to send messages and was brought to Congo, Uganda and Tanzania through traders and missionaries.  It takes a half of a day to make one Batik, and I had the chance to catch Filex in action and film it for you here.  

Filex now owns and operates Sunset Art Studio which is located across from the Arusha International Conference Centre.  In addition to selling paintings and providing workshops, he employs six people in his studio and his work supports the livelihood of several street vendor distributors.

If you are in the area, it is worth stopping by to say hello to Filex, to look at his work or perhaps to take a workshop.  He has a great sense of humor.  If you cannot find the studio, just go nearby to Via Via restaurant and ask since he also supplies their art (check out the stage murals at Via Via and art in the outdoor entry halls of AICC).

For those of you who cannot come visit, Filex and I created a video of how to make a Batik.  Click on the arrows below to view.

A Slideshow of Batik Art By Sunset Art Studio

.Batik Workshop

Some of you may remember my earlier post about Ubumama (www.ubumama.org). They also have Tanzanian women from Mbezi beach just outside Dar Es Salaam who run the Unique Handcraft Boutique where they also sell Batiks they have made