20/XX opens at Image Factory

While the word most often used to describe this year’s September celebrations is “pilinky,” the patriotic spirit of the nation’s artists seems anything but. On Thursday morning at 8:30, the new Western Highway roundabout will be christened with what is certain to become a city landmark. The Visible Hand was designed by SJC student Joseph Chiang and constructed by Gilvano Swasey, Yasser Musa and Shareef Bilal. A gift of the Government of Taiwan, it will stand over eleven feet high. Later Thursday evening at 6:30, the action shifts to the Image Factory where the book “She: Belizean Women Poets” will be launched. The collection is edited by Gay Wilentz. And tonight at 7:00 at the same venue, the exhibition, 20/XX opens. It features the work of twenty Belizean artists celebrating twenty years of Belize’s independence. One of those exhibiting is Channel 5’s director of production, Rick Romero. His look back at a decade of this station’s newscast is entitled “5 at 10”. All of the art exhibitions are open to the public. The Visible Hand unveiling on Thursday morning will be done by the Mayor, Prime Minister and Ambassador of Taiwan.