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.

Nature and Magic Unite! « Amazon Rainforest Magic, The adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro – SECOND EDITION! NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

An illustration from Amazon Rainforest Magic, the adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl « Amazon Rainforest Magic: The Adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami Girl is a captivating journey into the heart of Yanomami life and the enchanted forest they call home. Through … Continue reading →

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A Spellbinding Tale! « Amazon Rainforest Magic, The adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro – SECOND EDITION MARCH 24th! NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

An illustration from Amazon Rainforest Magic, the adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl « A fable of courage and enchantment, this children’s fantasy-adventure weaves myth, ecology, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples into a story that feels both urgent and timeless.  Through … Continue reading →

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The Earth and Indigenous peoples are dying for our Gold Obsession! Please Choose the Right to Life over Gold Profits and Vanity!

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

photo: Barrick Gold Corporation Gold is a colonial relic that we urgently need to recognize as essentially worthless – the deforestation, pollution and catastrophic impacts on water, wildlife and Indigenous communities is mainly for futile and superficial jewelry and financial … Continue reading →

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“If they are devastating the Amazon in search of gold there is a buyer’s market. Who buys this gold? The big brands and brands in the fashion world?” Who then buys this gold as trinkets? Please, please make sure it’s not you!

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Yanomami observing gold mining site in their territory – photo of Yanomami, Alto Orinoco, Amazonas, Venezuela and photo montage – Barbara Crane Navarro PLEASE LISTEN TO THE YANOMAMI SHAMAN’S MESSAGE – THE PLEA OF THE RAINFOREST! –« Hey – Look … Continue reading →

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Legal Gold and Illegal Gold – If Barrick Gold Corporation or wildcat prospectors were digging for gold in your back yard and contaminating your only source of water with cyanure or mercury, would you still decorate yourself with gold jewelry, watches and accessories?

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Right to Life over legal gold profits ! Right to Life over illegal gold profits ! Nothing says “I love you” like… 20 tonnes of mining waste?! That’s how much waste rock is dug up and discarded to produce the amount of … Continue reading →

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Barbara Crane Navarro: Artist & Activist In Her Own Words — Palm Oil Detectives Protect the world’s rainforests! #BoycottGold4Yanomami! #Boycott4Wildlife!

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

#BoycottDeforestation: Gold, PalmOil, Exotic Wood, Gems, Beef, Soy! Bio: Barbara Crane Navarro Barbara Crane Navarro is a French artist, writer, Indigenous and animal activist who lives near Paris. he studied at Rhode Island School of Design, then she went on … Continue reading →

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE? Barbara Crane Navarro interview with Leslie Tate

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Barbara Crane Navarro talks about creating art while living with The Yanomami people in The Amazon Rainforest, and burning her totemic sculptures as a protest against deforestation. Quote: “There’s an occidental concept of art and artists that includes or excludes and … Continue reading →

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ARTISTE EN RÉSIDENCE CHEZ DES AUTOCHTONES ? Entretien de Barbara Crane Navarro avec Leslie Tate

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Barbara Crane Navarro parle de la création artistique alors qu’elle vivait avec le peuple Yanomami dans la forêt amazonienne et de brûler ses sculptures pour protester contre la déforestation. citation : “Il existe une conception occidentale de l’art et des artistes … Continue reading →

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¿ARTISTA EN RESIDENCIA CON PUEBLOS INDIGENAS? Entrevista de Barbara Crane Navarro con Leslie Tate

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Barbara Crane Navarro habla sobre la creación de arte mientras vivía con el pueblo Yanomami en la selva amazónica y quemaba sus esculturas para protestar contra la deforestación. Cita: “Existe una concepción occidental del arte y de los artistas que incluye … Continue reading →

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PER FAVORE, ASCOLTA IL MESSAGGIO DELLO SCIAMANO YANOMAMI – L’APPELLO DELLA FORESTA PLUVIALE! E scopri come possiamo aiutare i popoli Indigeni!

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

foto: Renato Soares « Ehi, guardaci! Ti vediamo Cerchiamo di mostrartelo Non ti sei mai preso la briga di imparare la nostra lingua Guardavi sempre in basso Ti avvertiamo dall’inizio La terra è viva Questa terra non può essere posseduta Questa … Continue reading →

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