September 6, 2008 - e-flux The Sweet Burnt Smell of History, September 9th - October 21st 2008. Museum of Contemporary Art – Panamá. http://www.bienalpanama.org. Francis Alÿs, Abner Benaim, Enrique Castro Ríos, Donna Conlon, Sam Durant, Aurélien Froment, Mario García Torres, Jonathan Harker, Joachim Koester, Jonathan Monk, Roman Ondak, Rich Potter, Sean Snyder, Michael Stevenson, Mungo Thomson, Humberto Vélez and Ramón Zafrani Curated by Magali Arriola - When entering the territories of the former North American Canal Zone in Panama, many questions arise out of the living memories and remains of place whose identity has still to be negotiated on a daily basis. What used to be known as the Canal Zone – an area that was simultaneously a military reservation, a company town and a colony that has only recently started to show the first symptoms of local re-appropriation – seems to exist today as an apocryphal memory nourished by the nostalgia of those who occupied its lands, and as a geographical ghost that embodies Panama's colonial and post-colonial history. Eight years after Panama recovered complete sovereignty over that controversial piece of land, the 8th Panama Art Biennial deals with the former American Canal Zone as a historical marker, triggering a reflection on its recent social and political history through the lenses of contemporary visual arts. (more)
Click Here To Read The Full Article (439 words)
Have I mentioned lately how much of a fan I am of 
My thinly veiled excuse for posting pictures of a gorgeous babe this time is the photo session for the 
Have I mentioned recently what a great fan I am of 
Several new malls have opened up in Panama City in about the last four years. The first to open was the Multicentro in Paitilla. Shortly thereafter the Albrook Mall open next to the bus terminal and the Multi Plaza Mall in Punta Pacifica. I took some pictures at the Multi Plaza the other day and posted them to the photo albums in case you're interested. It's about like every mall in the United States and is currently going through an expansion. Here are links to:
Please welcome aboard the most recent link swapper - 
I was driving around this morning and noticed a big column of black smoke rising from the area of Chorillo. Where there's smoke there's usually fire so I headed over there. Sure enough, someone had set fire to a large pile of truck tires probably just to get rid of them rather than having to pay to haul them to the dump. The fire was at the end of Ave. De las Poetas in Chorillo right down by the water. The fire department showed up a few minutes after I did and hosed down the trash fire. No big deal, but since I got the pictures I might as well put them up. Salud... 
Every once in awhile the Pacific high tide converges with an offshore storm, producing some interesting wave action against the sea wall on Avenue Balboa. This only happens maybe ten times a year so it's relatively uncommon. This morning at 8:54 am the Pacific ocean was at a 15.5 high tide (
The Fundación Albatros Media is presenting an exhibition of 40 large-format photographs and videos called "Treasures of Coiba" from 20 April to 20 May 2006 at the Mall Multiplaza Pacífico in Panama. The goal of the exhibition is to raise awareness of risks to Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005. The exhibition occurs at a crucial time for Coiba National Park, as a tourism and management plan is currently under development with UNESCO. This initiative is supported financially by the United Nations Foundation and the Global Conservation Foundation. The exhibition was made possible by Conservation International, Credicorp Bank, Mall Multiplaza Pacífico and TVN Noticias. 
MIAMI -- A 300-foot cargo ship was badly damaged Monday when it slammed into a seawall leaving the Miami River on its way out to sea. The ship the Hybur Star, registered in Panama but owned by a company based on the Miami River, was left with a gaping hole in hits hull. No one on board the ship was injured. Crewmembers were able to shut down the ship's compartment hatches to prevent the ship from sinking, but the freighter did take on some water. The Coast Guard said the ship's bulkhead was designed to withstand just this type of collision. Coast Guard crewmembers and port officials were evaluating the damage, and Atlantis Marine Towing Company was on scene to assist. Officials said that it is likely that the company that owns the ship will have to offload its cargo of frozen chickens onto another ship. The ship was bound for Haiti when the accident happened. 
You're going to be seeing the name "Mauro Endara" more often. He's a Panamanian photographer who has recently released a CD called "The Most Beautiful Pictures of Panama." There are more than 1,000 photos on the disk from all over the country - Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Colon, Cocle, David, the San Blas islands, Los Santos, Herrera, Carnival, the Panama Canal, and Panama City. He's letting me use his photos in the articles I publish on Panama Guide, and in retun I'm helping him to promote his CD. The CD is available Panama City in CD Place, and other points around the city. If you'd like to buy one, see below. 
I don't have it totally locked in yet, but it looks like DoIt Center is going to sponsor the 2006 Panama Guide Photo Contest. The decision maker has given me a green light, but I have to work out the details with their PR guy, who is up in Chiriqui to open the new store there. I'm going to announce new sponsors as they sign up, so keep those photos coming. Remember, only three per person (max) this time for the contest, and feel free to send me other images of Panama to put in the albums if you'd like. Good luck...
Agua! Agua! We would like to see how you spent Carnival in Panama 2006. Please send in your photos with a couple of words about where you are, who's in the photo, and what's going on, and we'll publish the best ones. Email photos to don@panama-guide.com and thanks.
