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.

Une histoire inoubliable ! – « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Yarima, une fille Yanomami » – Pour les 8 à 12 à 100 ans! – écrit et illustré par Barbara Crane Navarro – Les trois livres de la séries sont MAINTENANT sur KINDLE AUSSI !

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

illustration tirée de « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Yarima, une fille Yanomami » « J’ai découvert ce livre lors d’une journée portes ouvertes dans un atelier, et il est rapidement devenu l’un de mes préférés. L’histoire est magnifiquement écrite, … Continue reading →

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A Story That Stays With You! – « 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! All three books of the series are NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

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

An illustration from Amazon Rainforest Magic, the adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl « I discovered Barbara Navarro’s children’s book during an open studio event, and it quickly became a family favorite!The story is beautifully written, weaving magic and heart into … Continue reading →

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The Lost Worlds of the Tepuis!

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

Venezuela’s tepuis are true “islands in the sky.”Isolated for millions of years, they shelter extraordinary species found nowhere else on Earth.From tiny frogs to carnivorous plants, each summit is a living world of its own!A reminder that nature’s imagination is … Continue reading →

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Qui peut aider la forêt ?

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

Qui peut aider la forêt ?Qui peut aider les rivières ?Qui peut aider les peuples qui vivent là-bas ?Peut-être toi ?Viens nous rejoindre ! #Boycott4Wildlife#BoycottGOLD4Yanomami!

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Fantasy-Adventure tales of Yanomami life in the Amazon Rainforest! – ENGLISH, ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS -“Amazon Rainforest Magic” y “La Magia de la Amazonia” et “La Magie de l’Amazonie” – ages 8 to 100! – ALL THREE BOOKS IN THE SERIES NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Amazon Rainforest Magic: The adventures of Namowë, a Yanomami boy (Volume 1) For more Volume 1 details – in the USA, please click here: https://goo.GL/VmexDS Amazon Rainforest Magic: The adventures of Meromi, a Yanomami girl (Volume 2)  For more Volume 2 … Continue reading →

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¿Quién puede ayudar al bosque?

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

¿Quién puede ayudar al bosque?¿Quién puede ayudar a los ríos?¿Quién puede ayudar a los pueblos que viven allí?¿Quizás tú?¡Únete a nosotros! #Boycott4Wildlife#BoycottGOLD4Yanomami!

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Quem pode ajudar a floresta?

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

Quem pode ajudar a floresta? Quem pode ajudar os rios? Quem pode ajudar os povos que vivem lá? Quem sabe você? Venha se juntar a nós! #Boycott4Wildlife#BoycottGOLD4Yanomami!

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Who can help the forest?

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

Who can help the rivers? Who can help the people who live there? Maybe you? Come join us and help make a difference! #Boycott4Wildlife! #BoycottGOLD4Yanomami!

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Emotional and profound! – « 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! – All 3 books of the series are NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

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

An illustration from Amazon Rainforest Magic, the adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl « I started this expecting a simple rainforest adventure for younger readers, but it became far more emotional and thought-provoking than I anticipated. Some of the scenes … Continue reading →

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A vibrant tale of bravery and wonder! – « 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! – All 3 books of the series are NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on June 14, 2026 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

An illustration from Amazon Rainforest Magic, the adventures of Yarima, a Yanomami girl « This children’s fantasy-adventure tale weaves together myth, nature, and the strength of Indigenous cultures into a story that feels both vital and eternal. Through the eyes … Continue reading →

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