“Fire” exhibit on at Image Factory
Two years ago the Image Factory on North Front Street provided a window to the past with an amazing exhibition on the effects of hurricanes in Belize. Now they have a new show, on the disaster that may strike at any time of year, in any portion of the city or district towns.
Over the past one hundred years, there have been several major fires which have destroyed well-known buildings or changed entire neighborhoods. They have also claimed innocent lives.
Jacqueline Woods
“However painful the memories may be, there is something we can all learn from such catastrophes. Since 1997, the Image Factory has been working on a major exhibition to highlight the destruction and the changes that have been caused by fires.”
Hector Silva Sr., Ministry of Works, 1964-1968
“It brings a lot of memories because I know quite a lot of them. I witnessed the Harley’s fire. I witnessed the San Ignacio, two big fires and there are many of them. Hyde’s Lane fire which I have some pictures of it.”
One of the things that will strike the visitor is how the problems firefighters face today are similar to those in the last century. People still get in the way, they still need more equipment and neighborhoods are still congested with old wooden buildings. Gilvano Swasey, the exhibit’s coordinator says it took two years of research and work to put it all together.
Gilvano Swasey, Coordinator, Exhibit
“We have been researching, documenting, putting stuff together. Physically setting up this show took about three months, — cutting, sticking, pasting — making sure everything is visually acceptable by everyone. I mean if a child looks they can appreciate it; if someone old looks at it, if someone at a certain height they can all see it and understand what is happening.”
Gilvano Swasey
“This exhibition goes in the aspect of the factory that we declare as an education center. We have done several educational exhibitions like this.”
This time the Image Factory has gone one step further however, by adding a video segment to the presentation.
Gilvano Swasey
“Well we wanted, I mean most of the images here are still images and fire is something in movement. There is a lot of energy in it. So if we just had the photos up, sure they would learn something but they would not get the feeling of it.”
Hector Silva Sr.
“In general it is very, very interesting to see these huge events that change the face of Belize City because had those fires not destroyed some of those buildings maybe they would still be here. Today you see cement structures going up so it is very interesting.”
And no doubt people of all ages will find this show interesting. “Fire” is on until November seventeenth at the Image Factory on North Front Street. Students are especially urged to attend.
The Image Factory would like to thank Meg Craig, the National Fire Service, The Archives Department and local TV stations for their contributions to the show.
