Panamanian art:

The Art of Panama is a mix of the indigenous and modern influences.  A popular type of art is called Mola or ‘shirt’ in the Kuna Language.  This is a type of colorful wall hanging with complex patterns that may include symmetry in the design.  Originally they were based on painted images and then later textile designs woven into the fabric.

Indigenous art includes many examples of jewelry, hats and other clothing one may find in neighboring countries in Latin America.  The Panama Hat is an example of strong tradition leading into a design and development of the method evolving over hundreds of years.

Some of the art and dress in Panama is influenced by Spanish aesthetics and this can be seen in examples of the colors and dresses worn during festivals  One example is the Pollera Festival where the dresses and colors are beautiful in articulation with adornments and details.

The modern art scene in Panama is thriving with galleries exhibiting both national and international art. Pre-Columbian art is preserved and replicated in Museums and traditions still live on strong.  The architecture is another fine example of the artistic, expressive nature. With years in engineering, and technological influence in Panama, one cannot be too surprised to see cutting edge examples of art and design in both industry and entertainment .

Panamanian folkloric music:

Panama 's music relates to the main expressions of this Central American country music . When Panama was an independent country in 1903 , there were two distinct movements popular music : country music campesina.La music , known locally as " folk music " , is located mainly in the central provinces of Panama ( Cocle , Herrera , Los Santos and Veraguas) . It is mainly divided into four expressions of folklore : the cumbia, the tenth , marjoram and Panama tamborito.La folk music is the result of interbreeding that occurred between Spanish traditions , Indian and African . Used as instruments snare drum , drum bidder , the box, the churuca , the triangle is , accordion, female voice , chantey male voice . The cradle of Panamanian folklore is the National Marjoram Festival that takes place every year in the town of Guarare in the province of Los Santos , where every year they held contests to choose the best drummer , best singer tenths and the best interpreter of accordion latter contest is called " National Accordion competition Gelo Cordoba".

Panamanian handicrafts

The Emberá and Wounaan are most renowned for producing beautiful woven baskets of incredibly high quality. There are two types: the utilitarian and the decorative. The utilitarian baskets are made primarily from the chunga palm, but can contain bits of other plants, vines, bark and leaves. They are usually woven, using various plaiting techniques, from single plant strips of coarse texture and great strength, and are rarely dyed. These baskets are often used for carrying seeds or harvesting crops. The decorative baskets are much more refined, usually featuring many different colors and are created from palm materials of the nahuala bush and the chunga palm. The dyes are 100% natural, and are extracted from fruits, leaves, roots and bark. Typical motifs are of butterflies, frogs, toucans, trees and parrots.You can often buy baskets at any of the markets.

Panamanian traditions

The country has a rich variety of legends mostly told in inner towns, where you can listen to the story of La Virgen Guerrera (The Fighting Virgin) or la Margarita de los Campos (Daisy of the Fields) and el Chorro de las Mozas (the Young Girls’ Stream) by Luisita Aguilera Patiño, el Pargo Negro (the Black Snapper) by Manuel María Alba, and la Niña Encantada del Salto del Pilón (the Enchanted Girl from El Pilón’s Fall) by Sergio González Ruiz. The most outstanding festive days are those dedicated to the Patron Saints: the Sabbath of Glory, the Day of the Cross, La Mejorana Festival, La Pollera Festival, Saint Sebastian in Ocú, Corpus Christi and other interesting and peculiar celebrations.