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.

In Thomas More’s « Utopia », published in 1516, gold and precious stones have no value. Indeed, they carry the weight of blood, slavery and human madness -The ART of GREENWASHING by the MERCHANTS of GOLD – in their own words…

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

In the decades-long continuity of greenwashing the gold jewelry, watches and accessories company that created and underwrites them, the Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art presents yet another “nature” oriented exhibition Les Vivants (Living Worlds) as part of lille3000, Utopia – … Continue reading →

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Human Rights Watch : Venezuela no protege a comunidad Yanomami de violencia de grupos irregulares! — Ecoamazônia

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

La organización internacional advierte que Venezuela no ha protegido a la comunidad yanomami de la violencia, el trabajo forzado ni la explotación sexual por parte de quienes desarrollan la minería de oro ilegal. La organización internacional Human Rights Watch (HRW) … Continue reading →

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New Report on Stolen Land and Fading Forests in Chile — Global Justice Ecology Project

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Stolen Land and Fading Forests in Chile Environmental Paper Network 23 June 2022 By Sergio Baffoni A new report from the Environmental Paper Network reveals another case of “Conflict Plantations,” this time in Chile.   41 more words New Report on Stolen … 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

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« 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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Como preservar e produzir na Amazônia? — Ecoamazônia

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

O “Diálogos na USP” desta semana conversa com os professores Wagner Costa Ribeiro e Claude de Paula Moraes A Floresta Amazônica é a maior floresta tropical do mundo, famosa por sua biodiversidade, mas também pelos problemas a serem resolvidos pelos … Continue reading →

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Contes animés en langue indigène (et traduits) – Les Seris – L’origine de la Terre — Peuples autochtones d’Abya Yala — Tiny Life

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Publié le 6 Novembre 2016 On raconte qu’il y a très longtemps, il n’existait seulement que la mer, le ciel et les animaux marins.Un jour, les animaux ont décidé de descendre au fond de la mer pour y créer la … 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

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« 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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Grito pela ecologia é tema do Festival da Cultura e Música Indígena do Eware — Ecoamazônia

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Evento ocorre entre 4 e 9 de julho, em Belém do Solimões, e deve contar com mais de 800 pessoas de diferentes comunidades indígenas O Festival da Cultura e Música Indígena do Eware iniciou-se nesta terça-feira (5). 35 more words Grito … Continue reading →

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Contes animés en langue indigène (et traduits) – Les Yaquis – Le criquet sorcier — Peuples autochtones d’Abya Yala — Tiny Life

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Publié le 5 Novembre 2016 LE CRIQUET SORCIER Depuis longtemps, un arbre qui était prophète a enseigné aux yaquis qu’arriverait du nord un monstre féroce.Prévoyants, les yaquis établirent des guerriers permanents à différents points stratégiques.Un peu plus tard, un grand … 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 

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« 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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