Author Archives: Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

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About Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

I'm a French artist living near Paris. From 1968 to 1973 I studied at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, then at the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco, California, for my BFA. My work for many decades has been informed and inspired by time spent with indigenous communities. Various study trips devoted to the exploration of techniques and natural pigments took me originally to the Dogon of Mali, West Africa, and subsequently to Yanomami communities in Venezuela and Brazil. Over many years, during the winters, I studied the techniques of traditional Bogolan painting. Hand woven fabric is dyed with boiled bark from the Wolo tree or crushed leaves from other trees, then painted with mud from the Niger river which oxidizes in contact with the dye. Through the Dogon and the Yanomami, my interest in the multiplicity of techniques and supports for aesthetic expression influenced my artistic practice. The voyages to the Amazon Rainforest have informed several series of paintings created while living among the Yanomami. The support used is roughly woven canvas prepared with acrylic medium then textured with a mixture of sand from the river bank and lava. This supple canvas is then rolled and transported on expeditions into the forest. They are then painted using a mixture of acrylic colors and Achiote and Genipap, the vegetal pigments used by the Yanomami for their ritual body paintings and on practical and shamanic implements. My concern for the ongoing devastation of the Amazon Rainforest has inspired my films and installation projects. Since 2005, I've created a perfomance and film project - Fire Sculpture - to bring urgent attention to Rainforest issues. To protest against the continuing destruction, I've publicly set fire to my totemic sculptures. These burning sculptures symbolize the degradation of nature and the annihilation of indigenous cultures that depend on the forest for their survival.

Butterfly Viper Bitis nasicornis — Palm Oil Detectives

Although they possess one of the most potent venoms of all snakes in Africa, Butterfly Vipers are surprisingly placid and won’t attack unless provoked or threatened. They are known by several common names: Rhinoceros viper, River Jack, the Rhinoceros horned … Continue reading

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Engaging stories with enchanting illustrations! – « Amazon Rainforest Magic The adventures of Namowë, a Yanomami boy » and « Amazon Rainforest Magic The adventures of Meromi, a Yanomami girl » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro 

illustration from « Amazon Rainforest Magic – The adventures of Namowë, a Yanomami boy » « Last year, I purchased the two « Amazon Rainforest Magic » books as a Christmas present for my nephew. Although my nephew is autistic, he can read if … Continue reading

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‘Just the beginning’: dawn of greenwash era for journalism in Asia? — Palm Oil Detectives

Curtailed press freedom in Asia makes the job of calling out greenwashing increasingly difficult – at a time when corporate accountability is critical in the fight against climate change. Experts think greenwashing is only just beginning as PR firms try … Continue reading

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¡Esta fue una lectura divertida en voz alta para mi hijo! – « La Magia de la Amazonia Las aventuras de Namowë, un niño Yanomami » – ¡Para edades de 8 a 12 a 100 años! – escrito e ilustrado por Barbara Crane Navarro

« Le leí este libro en voz alta a mi hijo para sus estudios mientras aprendemos sobre diferentes culturas alrededor del mundo.Es bastante exigente con los libros y le gusta cuando te mantienen enganchado desde el principio.Fue genial para él. Le … Continue reading

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New Guinea Singing Dog Canis hallstromi — Palm Oil Detectives

Thought for decades to be extinct in the wild, the New Guinea singing dog populations hang on to survival in the remote mountains and forests of New Guinea. They were last spotted in 2017 near the Grasberg gold and copper … Continue reading

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C’était une lecture amusante à lire à haute voix pour mon fils ! – « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Namowë, un garçon Yanomami » – Pour les 8 à 12 à 100 ans! – écrit et illustré par Barbara Crane Navarro

« J’ai lu ce livre à haute voix à mon fils pour ses études alors que nous découvrons différentes cultures à travers le monde.Il est assez pointilleux sur les livres et aime qu’ils maintiennent en haleine dès le début.C’était génial pour … Continue reading

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Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri — Palm Oil Detectives

Territorial and highly social, Southern Ground Hornbills collectively raise their young in groups – a process of parental guidance that can take up to two years – the longest of any bird species known. They are considered to be a … Continue reading

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This book was a fun read aloud for my son! – « Amazon Rainforest Magic The adventures of Namowë, a Yanomami boy » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro 

« I read this aloud to my third grader for social studies as we’ve been learning about different cultures around the world.He is pretty picky about books and likes them to get interesting right at the start. This book was great … Continue reading

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Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei — Palm Oil Detectives

The regal, striking looking Golden Langur is also known by the common names Gee’s Golden Langur. They are the most endangered primate species in India and are considered to be sacred to many Himalayan peoples. They are classified as endangered … Continue reading

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¡Un viaje verdaderamente mágico! – « La Magia de la Amazonia Las aventuras de Meromi, una niña Yanomami » – ¡Para edades de 8 a 12 a 100 años! – escrito e ilustrado por Barbara Crane Navarro

« El segundo volumen de la serie Amazon Rainforest Magic narra el sorprendente viaje de Meromi, una niña Yanomami que se ve envuelta en una aventura inesperada en los ríos y selvas del Amazonas. Es un viaje verdaderamente mágico para Meromi … Continue reading

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