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.

My Favorite Little Film! – Sometimes we miss the most beautiful moments – DON’T MISS THIS one! A magical 38-second film – “The Yanomami boy’s surprise friend in the jungle”!

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Please help protect the forests, rivers, wildlife and the lives of the Yanomami and other Indigenous peoples by boycotting ALL products from deforestation; gold, palm oil, exotic wood, soy, beef, etc. Here’s the 38-second film of the Yanomami boy in … Continue reading →

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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! NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

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) – front and back covers For more Volume 2 details – in the USA, please … Continue reading →

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¡Niños Yanomami para los niños del mundo! – « La Magia de la Amazonia Las aventuras de Namowë, un niño Yanomami » y « 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 – ¡AHORA TAMBIÉN en KINDLE!

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

«Las imágenes cautivadoras tienen el poder de energizar las aventuras de los niños Yanomami para captar la atención y la curiosidad del lector.  Para mí que, como Bárbara, tuve el privilegio de vivir con los Yanomami, las historias evocadoras y … Continue reading →

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Des enfants Yanomami pour les enfants du monde ! – « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Namowë, un garçon Yanomami » et « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Meromi, une fille Yanomami » – Pour les 8 à 12 à 100 ans! – écrit et illustré par Barbara Crane Navarro – MAINTENANT sur KINDLE AUSSI !

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« Les images captivantes ont le pouvoir de dynamiser les aventures des enfants Yanomami afin de capter l’attention et la curiosité du lecteur.  Pour moi qui, comme Barbara, ai eu le privilège de vivre avec les Yanomami, les histoires évocatrices et … Continue reading →

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Yanomami children for the children of the world! – « 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 – NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

illustration from the « Amazon Rainforest Magic » book series – for volume 3 (not yet published) « The engaging images have the power to energize the Yanomami children’s adventures in order to capture the reader’s attention and curiosity.  For me, … Continue reading →

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¡Estos libros son deliciosos! – « La Magia de la Amazonia Las aventuras de Namowë, un niño Yanomami »  y « 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 – ¡AHORA TAMBIÉN en KINDLE!

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« Aunque están escritos para niños, estos libros “La Magia de la Amazonia” me parecieron divertidos de leer y muy informativos.  Me encontré riendo en todo momento. Son historias geniales y, aunque fantásticas y aventureras, aprendí mucho sobre los yanomami, su … Continue reading →

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Ces livres sont délicieux ! – « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Namowë, un garçon Yanomami » et « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Meromi, une fille Yanomami » – Pour les 8 à 12 à 100 ans! – écrit et illustré par Barbara Crane Navarro – MAINTENANT sur KINDLE AUSSI !

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« Bien qu’écrits pour les enfants, j’ai trouvé les livres, “La Magie de l’Amazonie”, agréables à lire et très instructifs.  Je me suis retrouvé à rire tout au long. Ce sont des histoires formidables et, bien que fantastiques et aventureuses, j’ai … Continue reading →

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These books are delightful! – « 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 – NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

illustration from « Amazon Rainforest Magic – The adventures of Meromi, a Yanomami girl » « Although written for children, I found these the “Amazon Rainforest Magic” books to be a delight to read and highly informative.  I caught myself chuckling throughout. … Continue reading →

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¡Una historia mágica de heroísmo medioambiental! – « 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 – ¡AHORA TAMBIÉN en KINDLE!

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

ilustración de « La Magia de la Amazonia- Las aventuras de Meromi, una niña Yanomami » “La Magia de la Amazonia”- Volumen 2 es una historia encantadora que lleva a los lectores al corazón de una jungla vibrante, donde una joven llamada … Continue reading →

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Une histoire magique d’héroïsme environnemental ! – « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Meromi, une fille Yanomami » – Pour les 8 à 12 à 100 ans! – écrit et illustré par Barbara Crane Navarro – MAINTENANT sur KINDLE AUSSI !

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

illustration tirée de « La Magie de l’Amazonie Les aventures de Meromi, une fille Yanomami » « Le deuxième volume de la série Amazon Rainforest Magic raconte le voyage surprenant de Meromi, une fille Yanomami qui est entraînée dans une aventure inattendue dans … Continue reading →

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