Life Underwater sea exhibit at Image Factory

One year ago the Image Factory on North Front Street, introduced an educational component to its gallery. The first show displayed photos of the damage caused by hurricanes that struck Belize. Today, the scenery is far more colorful as the gallery takes you on a tour of the life that exists underwater.

The collection is the private property of Fr. Leonard Deikman of St. John’s College and the Craig family. According to Fr. Deikman, who has been collecting shells since 1964, the objective of the display is three fold.

Fr. Leonard Deikman, St. John’s College

“One is to instruct the public, students especially, in what we have available, what can be seen. Because not everybody can go to the seashore, the beach, snorkel or dive and see these organisms. So it is a question of seeing. It is one thing to see a picture of one thing or read in a book or see it on TV. But to actually see the thing in three dimensions is worthwhile. Secondly it is a delight to any museum, what art does to see the wonderful forms and the colors especially in the shells.”

Gilvano Swasey an artist who works at the Image Factory says Life Underwater is just the beginning and they plan to display at least two to three more other educational shows this year.

Gilvano Swasey, Artist, Image Factory

“So far this year we have this one: Life Underwater. In September we’ll have another: Natural History. It will be life above water which will be insects and other animals. And then finally in October we will put a fire exhibition that we had promised. So this is just in line with our educational program.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Jacqueline Woods.

Life Underwater will run for six weeks and students are especially invited to attend.