Who's New has a successful Christmas Bazaar

by Eric Jackson photos by Mona Dresbach

I arrived at the new Country Inn & Suites at Amador a little late. A senior citizens' parade on Avenida Central disrupted my low-budget travel plans (take the Chorrillo bus on Via Espaqa near the office in Perejil, then walk the rest of the way to Amador), and that greatly lengthened my walk but also allowed me to catch a few more glimpses of Christmas sales season.

Many of the Avenida Central merchants were putting up their Christmas displays. Though the Monday morning crowds weren't huge, there were shoppers looking and buying, both from the stores and from the informal economy's sidewalk booths. The Mercadito was bustling, as many people who normally do their food shopping at the supermarkets are drawn by the booths' fresh national produce at lower prices during difficult economic times.

When I got over to the Avenida de Los Martires, I noticed that going by cab may not have shortened my commute by very much - as I approached the Instituto Nacional, the students were pouring out of the building and onto the street, to begin what turned out to be a three-hour blockade, with the cause of the day a demand for information about the school's repair and renovation schedule. As I passed below the Los Pueblitos municipal park, I looked up and saw the city crew busily maintaining this facility on Ancon Hill to its usual high standards of cleanliness. Then I sniffed and looked down, and noticed the raw sewage overflowing through the steel cap on the IDAAN sewer hole, then flowing away down the storm drain.

In other words, it's business as usual this Christmas shopping season in many respects, but how strong this year's holiday economy will be is the big question on many people's minds.

From the evidence at the Who's New annual bazaar, there is some reason for hope. The room was full when I put in my appearance. Of the vendors with whom I spoke, most said that sales were good, some qualifying their volume as greater than they expected, and only a couple expressed disappointment.

The groundrules for the Who's New Christmas bazaar are that the vendors must be members of the group, an organization dedicated to welcoming women who have recently arrived in Panama; the things sold must be created by the vendors or by members of a group of which the vendor is a part; and there is no reselling allowed. The emphasis is on art and handicrafts, but these definitions are taken in an expansive sense.

The first table's main offering, for example, bore the mark of some industrial processing - printing, to be precise. It was the Panama Stock Photo 2002 desk calendar, hot off the press. At that table one could also buy matted photographs, mostly of natural and cultural themes. To contact Panama Stock Photo, call (507) 229-6409 or send an email to a2002_Calendario@hotmail.com .

Next came Marsha Kat, who was selling pieces of sandstone with interesting grains and slices of multi-colored crystal, all painted with fish or seascapes. Her table also featured multi-purpose greating cards with seashell motifs. Those interested in seeing or ordering Kat's work should call her at(507) 317-5052.

Then came Lesley Tassell, who works in textiles. Her table featured aprons, coasters, quilted pillows, purses, etc. made with quilted fabrics and molas. Contact Lesley at (507) 317-9005 or pltassel@sinfo.net .

At the next table the creations that Julie Arias was selling were also in textiles, but more oriented toward knitting and macrame, with Christmas stockings and Santa hats for the season as well.

Janet Levi held down the next table, selling non-traditional bateas, her distinctively painted furniture, greeting cards and her Kuna coloring books. To see some of Janet's work and or to commission special orders, visit her website (http://www.batealady.com), or contact her by email at batealady@hotmail.com or by telephone at (507) 228-5444.

Across from Levi, Martha Maduro was selling beadwork and a selection of beads for those who like to do their own. I noticed adventurine, jade, crystal, cultured pearl, agate, Indian glass and lapiz lazuli among her materials. Maduro, who also serves as the repository and disseminator of information about religious services for Who's New, can be reached at 270-1378.

Next to Levi was Adela Lopez, a Kuna woman selling a wide selection of molas and items decorated with molas, plus a little bit of beadwork. Contact her at 221-6255.

Then came food and calendars. Rise Villanueva, recently arrived from Michigan, was selling cookies and these deadly delicious chocolate-covered bon-bons. We talked baking for awhile, touching on old country and new country variations on the oatmeal-raisin cookie (in Michigan, substitute dried cherries for the raisins, while in Panama, use dried mango bits instead). Villanueva also lent space on her table to sell the beautiful 2002 Parque Natural Metropolitian calendars. Contact her at flmngo717@aol.com .

Across from Lopez and Villanueva was the British Aid Society's table, which featured the works of Carol Skinner. The centerpiece was a doll to be raffled, along with an extensive doll wardrobe sewn by Skinner. There were also Christmas cards with raised mola designs, and wreaths and Christmas ornaments made from dried plant materials. To find out more about Carol Skinner's work, as an artist or with respect to the British Aid Society, send her an email at skinner@sinfo.net .

Next to the British Aid Society was the Art-Cermica Caryme table, with painted wood plaques and wall decorations, and ceramic sculptures in Christian and Christmas themes. Caridad Charette was behind the table, which also featured flyers for children's and adults' craftwork courses taught by her partner, Myriam Alvarez Lay. To contact Art-Ceramica Caryme, call (507) 226-0391.

Stuck in a corner, which turned out to be a very busy corner, was Norma Diaz, who works in stained glass. On this day she was selling a lot of Christmas stars, and the centerpiece of her exhibit was a beautiful Tiffany-style lamp, which was priced at $180. There were also shades for wall lights, candle boxes, vases and other works. To find out more about Norma Diaz's work, or to place your order, send an email to diaznorma@hotmail.com, call (507) 315-0140 or send a fax to (507) 315-0141.

Then, at the next of the tables set up in front of the big windows facing the south entrance to the Panama Canal, Anamaria Zornes sold her creations in recycled wood. These included angel sculptures, Christmas trees, bateas, cabinets, boxes and stools. Contact her at 248-5548.

Beside Zornes was Aura March's impressive collection, which people told me was much more so earlier in the morning, before many of the choice pieces were bought. Her card describes her work in terms of floral arrangements and "artesania country," but what I saw were mostly sculptures, dolls and doll furniture. The centerpiece when I strolled by was a traditional Father Christmas sculpture (not to be confused with the red-and-white commercial version, Santa Claus as we know him) for $35. The dolls included Raggedy Anns, rabbits with floppy ears and Mother Gooses. To contact March, who does business as Creaciones Auravanec, call (507) 231-4565.

Next came Carlota J. Bentham, a jewelry designer who also makes silver-headed canes. She does business through Arcano Oro, which has a website at http://www.arcanaoro.com. Contact Bentham by email at info@arcanaoro.com.

Rounding out the handicrafts selection, and occupying another corner, was El Rinconcito Anglelical, mostly featuring little wood, ceramic and fabric angels by Fabiola G. de Castillo. She has a shop at 122 Altos de Santa Maria, on the heights above the Tumba Muerto offices of El Panama America and La Critica, and can be reached by email at fabiolita@tutopia.com or by telephone at (507) 230-5018.

Finally, another food table, this time the culinary craftwork of Margarita Levi. Here we had cookies, empanadas and other pastries in Panamanian, Levantine, Greek and international styles. Levi, who works out of her kitchen in Obarrio, puts her name on her special cookies but is probably more famous for her anis fingers. For me, however, the picks of the big selection she had this day were the little guava tarts and the potato knishes. To place your order with Margarita Levi, give her a call at (507) 264-5979.

Who's New sponsors monthly meetings with guest speakers and many other events. Coming up in December, aside from the meetings, welcome coffee and other regular events, there will be a tour of Barro Colorado Island on December 15.

Keep tabs with Who's New by visiting its website, at http://www.geocities.com/whosnewinpanama .