Sculptor has a love affair with lignum vitae

In the heart of Trelawny, where ancient wood whispers secrets of a bygone era, 40-year-old sculptor Tyree Henry turns raw lignum vitae into art that pulses with the spirit of Jamaica.

This dense, storied wood, known as 'the wood of life', bears Jamaica's national flower, and carries within it a mystique that has captivated Henry since childhood. Henry has dedicated 24 years to mastering his craft; he turns 41 this Sunday. His journey began amid the rugged streets of Old Harbour, where he was mesmerised by the skilled hands of seasoned sculptors. Later, at the Mighty Gully Youth Project, under the guidance of self-taught artist Lancelot Bryan, who rescued homeless youth by establishing a training centre, Henry discovered not just the technique, but the soul of carving.

"Lancelot teach me not only how to carve, but him teach me how to feel the spirit in the wood," he recalled. Today, his bustling art shop in Trelawny attracts both tourists and locals.

"I got customers every day," he shared, proud of how his work connects with people from all walks of life. Many enter with a simple picture or an idea, and leave with a unique creation.

"If you have anything in mind, and you send me a picture, I can do it too," he added, inviting custom commissions that further fuel his artistic passion.

Henry's connection with lignum vitae borders on the mystical. When he holds the wood, it seems to "start to talk", guiding his chisel and coaxing hidden shapes to emerge.

"Sometimes I pick it up and see a bird, sometimes a human figure. If the shape calls out to me, I just follow it," he explained, his voice filled with wonder.

Often, he ventures to Treasure Beach and the surrounding hills in search of naturally cure-dried lignum vitae wood. Sometimes he procures it from local sources. Each piece of wood - with its ever-changing hues, from pale yellows and greens to deep, rich browns - demands respect and careful handling.

"It's always alive," he said. "As I start to carve, it changes colour, like the rhythm of a heartbeat. You have to keep spinning it to find the right angle for a smooth cut. If you force it, the whole work can be ruined, like glass."

Henry sees his creative process as an intricate conversation between the past and the future, a dialogue that reveals something new each time he works on a piece. Currently, he is sculpting a piece called 'Many Faces', his most treasured creation, and a complex sculpture featuring 25 distinct faces representing nations from around the globe.

"My very first attempt at 'Many Faces', it take me six months, and this one a take me about a year," he told THE STAR.

"It's spiritual to me. I keep putting it down, because every time I pick it up, it feels like the spirit is talking to me. Mi cya even finish it because it guide me in ways I never expected. I treasure this piece," he said.

Expanding his repertoire, Henry also creates pieces that celebrate Jamaica's natural symbols.

"I do the hummingbird and the doctor bird as well, capturing the essence of Jamaica in every piece," he shared, highlighting how nature and culture intertwine in his work. He has even ventured into conceptual art with a piece he calls 'The Thinker', a striking sculpture of a male figure with a hidden female form within his head, symbolising the interplay of thought and emotion.

"It is really how I think and how my mind works," he said of the piece, signalling his willingness to experiment and evolve.