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.

News stories about spiders are unfairly negative – here’s how to tell the truth about spiders — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Frequent errors in news reports likely contribute to the animals’ undeserved bad reputation Spiders are pretty remarkable. They live almost everywhere, from rainforests to deserts. Some even spend most of their lives underwater. They are smarter than you think, with … Continue reading →

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A Wonderful book, a Treasure not to be missed! –  « Amazon Rainforest Magic The adventures of Meromi, a Yanomami girl » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro 

Posted on May 29, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« A wonderful book, (and it comes with a companion volume)! The « Amazon Rainforest Magic » books are two treasures about the Yanomami, a rainforest tribe.“The Adventures of Nanowë, a Yanomami boy” and “The adventures of Meromi, a Yanomami girl” both explore … Continue reading →

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African Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on May 29, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

African Dwarf Crocodiles are timid nocturnal animals and solitary hunters. They predate mainly on small animals in rivers or nearby to the riverbank. They are also known as the Broad-Snouted Crocodile or the Bony Crocodile are the smallest extant species … Continue reading →

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New 1:39 film on TikTok! – Cartier accused of Greenwashing after using images of Indigenous Yanomami tribe devastated by illegal gold mining without their permission!

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

@aljazeeraenglish #Cartier accused of #greenwashing after using images of #Indigenous tribe devastated by illegal gold mining. | #environment #illegalgoldmining #Amazon #fyp #news #luxury ♬ original sound – Al Jazeera English “This frame, which was removed from Cartier’s website, features an … Continue reading →

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One Gold Band. Twenty TONS of Waste!

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Yes, for just One Gold Band, there is Twenty TONS of Toxic Waste! written by Mary K. Doyle and posted on “Midwest Mary”, Thursday, May 11 2023  Environment, Jewelry, Mining Pollution  We do love our luxuries and conveniences. Gold, silver, diamonds, and precious jewels … Continue reading →

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Una historia llena de sentido para niños y adultos – « 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

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« La Magia de la Amazonia describe el viaje de un niño Yanomami a través de la selva amazónica para encontrar una cura para su hermana enferma. Encuentra animales y plantas parlantes que lo ayudan. El cuento está escrito en la línea … Continue reading →

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Bangka Slow Loris Nycticebus bancanus — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

This species was last reported from the wild in 1937. If the Bangka Slow Loris is still alive then the burning of their habitat and conversion to agriculture (especially palm oil plantations) is their greatest threat.Pint-sized and cute primate the … Continue reading →

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Une histoire significative pour les enfants et les adultes –  « 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

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« La Magie de l’Amazonie décrit le voyage d’un garçon Yanomami à travers la forêt tropicale amazonienne pour trouver un remède pour sa sœur malade. Il rencontre des animaux et des plantes parlant qui l’aident. Le conte est écrit dans la … Continue reading →

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Pygmy Hog Porcula salvania — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Pygmy hogs are only found in the lush and dense grasslands of Manas National Park, a small protected region in the shadows of the Himalayan mountains. These shy tiny wild pigs are the smallest pigs in the world and also … Continue reading →

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A Meaningful Story for Children and Adults – « Amazon Rainforest Magic, The adventures of Namowë, a Yanomami boy » – For ages 8 to 12 to 100!  – written and illustrated by Barbara Crane Navarro

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« Amazon Rainforest Magic describes the journey of a Yanomami boy through the Amazon rainforest to find a cure for his sick baby sister. He encounters talking animals and plants who help him. The book is written in the vein of “The … Continue reading →

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