Art studio owner speaks to Gravette Lions Club

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND
Jeff Davis, treasurer of the Gravette Lions Club, displays the trophy and a photo of the Lions Club float which won the award for best use of theme entry in the Gravette Day parade. The parade theme was "A New Day." This is the second year the club has won the award for best use of theme.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Jeff Davis, treasurer of the Gravette Lions Club, displays the trophy and a photo of the Lions Club float which won the award for best use of theme entry in the Gravette Day parade. The parade theme was "A New Day." This is the second year the club has won the award for best use of theme.

GRAVETTE -- David Henzie, owner with his wife Wenzie of Henzie's Art Studio on Gravette Main Street, was the guest speaker for the Gravette Lions Club meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Center. Seven members and three guests were present.

Henzie shared stories about his life experiences, his background and education in art, his teaching experience in Hong Kong and the United States and his move to Gravette.

Henzie said he was a California native and always enjoyed drawing, even as a child. He attended Azusa Pacific College and later a community college for a year and a half. He started a graphic design business in college and after leaving school began working for a movie studio that did special effects for the "Alien," "X-Files" and "Jumanji" movies. He was building shelves when he first started working there but soon was allowed to do drawings for an upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.

Henzie wanted to become an illustrator but, since his parents, grandparents, an uncle and some siblings were teachers, he returned to Azusa Pacific in 1998 to become an art teacher. He met his future wife, a Chinese girl, in a chat room and first saw her in person when she came to the United States for a job. She and three of her friends contacted him to ask if he would show them around town and he agreed to be their tour guide. He spent more time conversing with Wenzie since she had a better grasp of the English language and reported they had a great weekend. When she returned to Hong Kong, they exchanged journals and began to write in them and then exchanged their writings for a year and a half.

After graduation from college, Henzie decided to go to Hong Kong. He moved to Hong Kong in January 2002. He found a job quickly and spent several years teaching elementary art there. He also spent some time working as a youth pastor. He and Wenzie were married in August 2004. When they decided to leave Hong Kong, he applied for a job in Los Angeles. However, when he didn't get the job in LA, they chose to follow his parents, who had moved to Arkansas. They moved to Bella Vista in August 2018, where he worked at Starbucks and drove their children to Gravette schools. He made craft kits and sold them at area craft fairs to supplement their income.

David said he liked Gravette because "it feels like family." He liked having people wave as he drove by and enjoyed having coffee at Grumpy's. He decided to pursue working in arts and crafts full time and began working out of his parents' basement. However, he needed more space and began investigating buildings for sale. When he met Dawn Maddox, the Gravette mayor's wife, she encouraged him to open a studio where students who were homeschooled could come to do art projects. He bought the building that now houses his business and makes it available for homeschool groups to work. He and his wife also teach art and craft classes there for both youngsters and adults. The Henzies moved to Gravette in November 2019.

Treasurer Jeff Davis gave the treasurer's report indicating a bill from the eye clinic for one pair of glasses was still unpaid. The recipient of the new eyeglasses has contacted the club and thanked them.

Davis also displayed a photo of the Lions Club float in the Gravette Day parade and the trophy won by the club for entry with the best use of theme ("A New Day").

Packages of pecans have been received and will be sold over the next few weeks in local businesses. Pecans will also be available at the farmers' market on Saturday.

Because of the increase of covid cases in the area, club members voted to cancel the crockpot festival they were planning in October.

A food drive will be held Sept. 6-11. Collection bins will be placed at CV's Family Foods, Harps Hometown Foods and the Gravette Public Library. Canned goods and nonperishable foodstuffs will be appreciated. All donations will go to an area food pantry. The club will also hold its annual White Cane Day Saturday, Sept. 18, at several locations around town.

Club members are preparing for the upcoming eye testing of students at area schools. The screening device is being reformatted and testing will be available for area groups and schools that may be interested.

The club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. The next regular meeting of the club will be Tuesday, Sept. 7. Potential members and guests are always welcome.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND
David Henzie, owner with his wife Wenzie of Henzie's Art Studio on Gravette Main Street, speaks to members and guests at the August 17 meeting of the Gravette Lions Club. Henzie is telling them about doing drawings for special effects on an upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND David Henzie, owner with his wife Wenzie of Henzie's Art Studio on Gravette Main Street, speaks to members and guests at the August 17 meeting of the Gravette Lions Club. Henzie is telling them about doing drawings for special effects on an upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.