What defines contemporary Panama? The Panama Canal, the global trade hub at the crux of North and South America, is just the beginning. Its people, a blend of Indigenous, Spanish, and other diverse ethnic influences, create a unique cultural tapestry. Nature thrives in Panama along two ocean coasts with more than 1,600 islands, two major mountain ranges, and more bird species than the United State and Canada combined.
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Essdras M. Suarez—a native of Panama— leads a Smithsonian Associates visual tour that explores the country’s interplay of commerce, culture, and biodiversity in images that capture the deep connection between its inhabitants and their environment. Whether a trip to Panama is on your wish list or you’re simply curious about one of the Western Hemisphere’s most culturally and geopolitically critical nations, Suarez offers a personal and powerful picture of his homeland. The webinar will be presented on Zoom on January 22 at 7 pm Eastern. $25 for Smithsonian Associates members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at www.smithsonianassociates.org
