Author Archives: Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Unknown's avatar

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.

New Guinea Singing Dog Canis hallstromi — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Thought for decades to be extinct in the wild, the New Guinea singing dog populations hang on to survival in the remote mountains and forests of New Guinea. They were last spotted in 2017 near the Grasberg gold and copper … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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 – MAINTENANT sur KINDLE AUSSI !

Posted on December 8, 2024 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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Territorial and highly social, Southern Ground Hornbills collectively raise their young in groups – a process of parental guidance that can take up to two years – the longest of any bird species known. They are considered to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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 – NOW ON KINDLE, TOO!

Posted on December 7, 2024 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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

The regal, striking looking Golden Langur is also known by the common names Gee’s Golden Langur. They are the most endangered primate species in India and are considered to be sacred to many Himalayan peoples. They are classified as endangered … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

¡Un viaje verdaderamente mágico! – « 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 December 6, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« El segundo volumen de la serie Amazon Rainforest Magic narra el sorprendente viaje de Meromi, una niña Yanomami que se ve envuelta en una aventura inesperada en los ríos y selvas del Amazonas. Es un viaje verdaderamente mágico para Meromi … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Spiny-headed Tree Frog Triprion spinosus — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

A shy, arboreal species, Spiny-headed Tree Frogs are rarely seen and they live out their lives quietly in bromeliads and other tropical plants. They can be found in the subtropical forests of mountain ranges. They prefer intact forest and secondary … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Un voyage vraiment magique ! – « 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 December 5, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« 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 les rivières et les jungles de l’Amazonie. C’est un voyage vraiment magique pour Meromi … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Here are 13 Reasons Why You Should Boycott Gold For The Yanomami and ALL Indigenous People! — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

Hunger for Gold in the Global North is fueling a living hell in the Global South. Here are 20 reasons why you should #BoycottGold4Yanomami 13 Reasons Why You Should Boycott Gold For The Yanomami People — Palm Oil Detectives

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A truly magical journey! – « 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 December 4, 2024 by Barbara Crane Navarro - Rainforest Art Project

« The second volume of the Amazon Rainforest Magic series recounts the surprising voyage of Meromi, a Yanomami girl who is swept into an unexpected adventure in the rivers and jungles of the Amazon.  It is a truly magical journey for Meromi as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment