Cantos Alegres
Cantos Alegres was commissioned by and written for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Music and Artistic Director (by Paul Basler). The commission (sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts) came about after critically acclaimed performances of Basler's Missa Kenya in the spring of 2000 by Maestro Scheibe and the Master Chorale.
The poems (all in Spanish), chosen by the composer, are by a young California artist, Gabriel Navar, whose work is noted for its sensual imagery. An interesteing and important aspect of Navar's creative work is that each poem has a corresponding painting with the same title. Drama features prominently in Cantos Alegres and text painting abounds, highlighting Navar's beautiful poetry. A common thread moves through all nine poems - that of a love greater than all other loves.
Adorable Flow
" Adorable Flow "
mixed media on board
31 x 27 in © 1999 Gabriel Navar
Adorable Flow
energy flows, flows...
within me it enters in abundance...
the senses are a bridge
when I fall with the force of water
like a petal of light
towards the fountain of the intimate
immensity of the divine kiss in my mind...
adorable cosmic flow,
I am yours in
root and constellation
the senses are a river
when I fall in lightning
towards the ecstatic celebration
of the fertile garden where
I find you planting rays of light
and nourishment
you run like the water with its
energy and celestial smile,
smile that makes me flow
smile that imitates the sun...
and for its abundant warmth,
I jump as I laugh
because I enjoy a blade of grass
as I do an entire forest..
I shout as loud as I can
"I love living, I love living"
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings 
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Open Gates & Glowing Faces
" Open Gates & Glowing Faces "
mixed media on two wood doors
79 x 37 in © 1997 Gabriel Navar
Open Gates & Glowing Faces
of course I am happy,
wouldn't you be? when I look
at open gates and see a garden full of life,
of good health, and smiles of glowing faces it ignites my spirit
I have never been more excited to be alive
and in the radiance of peace that grows, I know that when I
surrender to sleep and the ocean of night
cradles my dreams,
I can only be in one state of being
completely open
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Melon-Flavored is the Day
" The Taste of Midday "
acrylic on paper
24 x 19 in © 2000 Gabriel Navar
Melon-Flavored is the Day
purple falls the sleeplessness
of an enormous love,
of a love watermelon-scented
with sweet pain
for a dream that reveals
in melodies for tomorrow
the taste of melon
which is the day...
the day is today and falls enormously,
it's a great song
and beautiful poetry
with sweet pain
for a dream that is watermelon-colored
that keeps me awake
for the tremendous love
that is awesome
and melon-
flavored
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
The Day is Today
" The Day is Today "
acrylic, oil, sand on bed fabric
37 x 39 in © 1999 Gabriel Navar
The Day is Today
for many nights now
I've been wanting to dance in jumps
within the marine light
that licks me this way
all is clear when
hunger evaporates
in expected rain
that falls here
kiss me, I offer you
the sun that illuminates
the awakening
where I am at
with you I dance in jumps
night after night,
your light animates me
yesterday
as today
awaken me...
the day
is today
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Elevated
" Elevated "
acrylic & paper on wood (mattress frame)
38 x 12 in © 1999 Gabriel Navar
Elevated
I live for the splendor surrounding your face
and for the silent darkness that your
eyes reflect upwards...
you navigate in eternity,
among the stars
that unite their lights
in you
and when your days of glory become deflated,
I feel the radiance within the ribs
because you navigate upwards,
among the stars
that are
in me
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Splinter of the Sun
" Splinter of the Sun "
acrylic & oil on wood door
77 x 28 in © 1998 Gabriel Navar
Splinter of the Sun
the body is a door,
upon entering, one can taste the
strong light, so strong that if
the sun were made of
wood, the internal fire of
the body would be a splinter
the body is a door,
upon opening one can listen to
the rivers, the red rivers
of the natural electric currency
that upon beating, the
dream sea of being
can be reached
the door is a body,
upon closing one can see
the zones of skin, skin of
a multitude of colors like a diverse
garden that swallows young rain
to nourish its hopes
the door is body,
upon leaving, one can feel the
light weight of the landscape,
the immense landscape that is
illuminated with bodily light,
internal fire
splinter of the sun
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
I rise like Trees Towards You
" I rise like trees towards you "
acrylic & oil on wood
54 x 20 in © 1999 Gabriel Navar
I rise like trees towards you
I get close to you when
I lie over the earth
and shut my eyes...
with face towards the sun,
I see dark orange in an
infinite mental sky
where I find you
planting
rays of light
light that falls
within
internal windows
that open
to allow
the smell of
trees
penetrate
my
ascension
towards you
towards you
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Star unite in You
" Stars Unite in You "
acrylic & oil on wood
41 x 41 in © 2000 Gabriel Navar
Stars unite in you
these words I dedicate
to the bridge of love,
the love that unites me with the greatest love,
much greater than I...
much greater than the yellow
that awakens early
that's how the glow is that awakens,
with its swift unique power,
all colors,
drenching them in light
drench', '', 'ed in light, I absorb the pure juice
of midday,
juice sweet like the melon...
sweet like the children who eat it
and reach elderly age to remember
the taste of midday...
its melody I taste in the red then blue
of the night,
and when I look at the grand face of darkness
and navigate in the sea of light
that is a beautiful bridge of light
I know it is here where
the stars unite in you...
in you
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Love that unites ...
" Love that Unites with the Greatest Love "
acrylic on paper
24 x 19 in © 2000 Gabriel Navar
Love that unites with the Greatest Love
the minute is a blade of grass
and in this instant I absorb the forest
that opens itself and flowers
like a wild mouth that sings
green verses and upon sleeping makes
cries grow that
nourish the garden well
cries and screams of joy
grow
because the sky opens
to the hymn of a warmth,
a warmth of love
that unites with the greatest love
it's enormous and spatial...
upon singing I'm drenched
and flourish in wilderness
of green dreams
and verses of grass
in this instant
I absorb the love that unites
with the greatest love
taste my words
fly my song
I live for the splendor
Hit PLAY to see a slideshow of the Cantos Alegres paintings .
Video: Cantos Alegres
This video uses the images of all the paintings from "Cantos Alegres". The song is "Adorable Flujo" performed by The Helena Chamber Singers on June 9, 10, 2002.
"Accenting the nine-section piece is Gabriel Navar's poetry, which Basler used as inspiration. Navar's poetry is reminiscent of Neruda at his most delighted." Newspaper review on the first performance of Cantos Alegres performed in St. Petersburg, conducted by Jo-Michael Scheibe.
© Gabriel Navar 1989 - 2017 
You may contact me directly if you are interested in acquiring my artwork.