oloNala
@olonala.bsky.social
oloNala - which means ‘humans’ and ‘forests’ in Malagasy - combines artistic expression & conservation to promote quality education, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development in Madagascar 🦎🎨🇲🇬
https://www.olonala.org
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
https://www.olonala.org
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Herzlichen Dank to the Dresden University of Fine Arts & Professor Barbara Wille for the opportunity to highlight the works of artists in Madagascar‘s #contemporaryart scene, Rasolo‘s journey as a self-taught Malagasy artist, & explorations into the synergies btwn #art and #nature #conservation! 💚🎨🇲🇬
January 9, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Herzlichen Dank to the Dresden University of Fine Arts & Professor Barbara Wille for the opportunity to highlight the works of artists in Madagascar‘s #contemporaryart scene, Rasolo‘s journey as a self-taught Malagasy artist, & explorations into the synergies btwn #art and #nature #conservation! 💚🎨🇲🇬
Sunlight streams through the windows of the art residency as Eddy, a member of the construction team, prepares bricks for the window arches ☀️
Photo by Alain Rasolo
#artresidencyprogram #comingsoon #madagascar
Photo by Alain Rasolo
#artresidencyprogram #comingsoon #madagascar
January 7, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Sunlight streams through the windows of the art residency as Eddy, a member of the construction team, prepares bricks for the window arches ☀️
Photo by Alain Rasolo
#artresidencyprogram #comingsoon #madagascar
Photo by Alain Rasolo
#artresidencyprogram #comingsoon #madagascar
with the new year coming up, we can't thank you all enough for supporting oloNala and following along as we grow here's to more creativity and curiosity in 2026! 🪲💚
December 29, 2025 at 7:41 AM
with the new year coming up, we can't thank you all enough for supporting oloNala and following along as we grow here's to more creativity and curiosity in 2026! 🪲💚
Join us in backing VOI Mitsinjo, a grassroots conservation collective! Even just sharing this post with friends & family is a massive help, and raises awareness of the awesome locally-led conservation work happening in Ranomafana, Madagascar 🇲🇬🌳
Donate here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
Donate here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
December 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Join us in backing VOI Mitsinjo, a grassroots conservation collective! Even just sharing this post with friends & family is a massive help, and raises awareness of the awesome locally-led conservation work happening in Ranomafana, Madagascar 🇲🇬🌳
Donate here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
Donate here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
Honored by a visit from esteemed artist & studio cat Gomez this morning! He's always dreaming about his next masterpiece 💭🐭🎨
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Honored by a visit from esteemed artist & studio cat Gomez this morning! He's always dreaming about his next masterpiece 💭🐭🎨
The second floor of the oloNala #ArtResidence is well underway! The arched windows facing the Namorona River will be fitted with stained glass thoughtfully arranged in designs emblematic of Malagasy culture - the Ravenala palm & Masoandro (the sun) - translated as the "eye of the day" ☀️ 💛
November 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The second floor of the oloNala #ArtResidence is well underway! The arched windows facing the Namorona River will be fitted with stained glass thoughtfully arranged in designs emblematic of Malagasy culture - the Ravenala palm & Masoandro (the sun) - translated as the "eye of the day" ☀️ 💛
Reposted by oloNala
#FunFactFriday: Meet the Lac Alaotra gentle lemur—the world’s only primate that lives exclusively in wetlands! 💧
📷: Deb Bradley
📷: Deb Bradley
November 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#FunFactFriday: Meet the Lac Alaotra gentle lemur—the world’s only primate that lives exclusively in wetlands! 💧
📷: Deb Bradley
📷: Deb Bradley
October marked our first month as members of the Lemur Conservation Network and the 14th birthday of the Ranomafana Nature Center! And what better way to celebrate than with a round of the LCN's Lemurs! Card Game 🎉
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
October marked our first month as members of the Lemur Conservation Network and the 14th birthday of the Ranomafana Nature Center! And what better way to celebrate than with a round of the LCN's Lemurs! Card Game 🎉
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
For #WorldLemurDay, Centre ValBio organized a trip for Nature Center students to visit Studio oloNala! The students were excited to see the same wildlife they draw in their own sketchbooks reflected on the walls, and gathered inspiration from their own walk through Ranomafana National Park! 🔍🌳
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
For #WorldLemurDay, Centre ValBio organized a trip for Nature Center students to visit Studio oloNala! The students were excited to see the same wildlife they draw in their own sketchbooks reflected on the walls, and gathered inspiration from their own walk through Ranomafana National Park! 🔍🌳
Arahaba Tratry ny Andron'ny Varika! Happy #WorldLemurDay from Ranomafana!
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Arahaba Tratry ny Andron'ny Varika! Happy #WorldLemurDay from Ranomafana!
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
With special thanks to @wildwonder.bsky.social, we’ve created a Malagasy translation of their popular "Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling!" This zine is downloadable on their website alongside other languages, to make the nature journaling practice more accessible to anyone who wants to start 🖍
October 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
With special thanks to @wildwonder.bsky.social, we’ve created a Malagasy translation of their popular "Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling!" This zine is downloadable on their website alongside other languages, to make the nature journaling practice more accessible to anyone who wants to start 🖍
Human rights are non-negotiable. Our thoughts are with the families of the 22 people killed and 100+ injured in Madagascar’s youth-led movement for access to basic needs. We remain hopeful for a peaceful transition of power in Madagascar & the creation of a government truly for the Malagasy people 🇲🇬
Gen Z protesters — from Indonesia and Nepal to Madagascar and Morocco — are rallying behind an unexpected banner: a grinning skull in a straw hat.
Why Gen Z protesters worldwide are flying an anime pirate flag
Gen Z protesters from Indonesia and Nepal to Madagascar and Morocco, are rallying behind an unexpected banner: a grinning skull in a straw hat.
n.pr
October 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Human rights are non-negotiable. Our thoughts are with the families of the 22 people killed and 100+ injured in Madagascar’s youth-led movement for access to basic needs. We remain hopeful for a peaceful transition of power in Madagascar & the creation of a government truly for the Malagasy people 🇲🇬
More fun with spiders! Nature Center teacher Jocelyn had noticed a large number of orb-weaver #spiders near the marketplace in Ranomafana, Madagascar, and organized a #naturejournaling session so that students could observe them up close & in their webs 🔍🕸️
September 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
More fun with spiders! Nature Center teacher Jocelyn had noticed a large number of orb-weaver #spiders near the marketplace in Ranomafana, Madagascar, and organized a #naturejournaling session so that students could observe them up close & in their webs 🔍🕸️
Last week’s nature journaling session was all about 🕷️❗️
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
August 29, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Last week’s nature journaling session was all about 🕷️❗️
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
First floor of the oloNala #ArtResidency is built 🙌 This section of the building will house studio and gallery space for artists in the future program, offering a dedicated space for working on projects & building portfolios 🖼️ A huge thanks to Sunshine Comes First for sponsoring this initial phase!
August 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
First floor of the oloNala #ArtResidency is built 🙌 This section of the building will house studio and gallery space for artists in the future program, offering a dedicated space for working on projects & building portfolios 🖼️ A huge thanks to Sunshine Comes First for sponsoring this initial phase!
Honored to see our interview with Destination: Wildlife published on their blog! We discuss what creative paths to conservation might look like and how we see art as a tool for creating shared cultural narratives around the environment in Madagascar ⬇️
www.destinationwildlife.com/blog/inspiri...
www.destinationwildlife.com/blog/inspiri...
In Madagascar, Conservation and the Art of Saving Our World — Destination: Wildlife™
90% of the wildlife and plants In Madagascar are endemic, and endangered or critically Endangered. Johanna Mitra and Alain Rasolo created the nonprofit oloNala to save this incomparable biodiversity, ...
www.destinationwildlife.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Honored to see our interview with Destination: Wildlife published on their blog! We discuss what creative paths to conservation might look like and how we see art as a tool for creating shared cultural narratives around the environment in Madagascar ⬇️
www.destinationwildlife.com/blog/inspiri...
www.destinationwildlife.com/blog/inspiri...
Attending this year’s International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo #Madagascar?
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
July 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Attending this year’s International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo #Madagascar?
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
#Naturejournaling fosters a deeper connection between people & place. Slowing down & paying special attention to all the little things not only builds observation and critical thinking skills with regards to the surrounding environment, but encourages the observer to explore their place within it ☀️
July 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
#Naturejournaling fosters a deeper connection between people & place. Slowing down & paying special attention to all the little things not only builds observation and critical thinking skills with regards to the surrounding environment, but encourages the observer to explore their place within it ☀️
It's happening! 🎉 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
June 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It's happening! 🎉 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
We're gearing up for our first project with the Ranomafana Nature Center - nature journaling! Working with the teachers there, we've designed a nature journaling practice to complement their lessons, offering visiting students a creative way to explore their surroundings 🎨🖌️
April 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
We're gearing up for our first project with the Ranomafana Nature Center - nature journaling! Working with the teachers there, we've designed a nature journaling practice to complement their lessons, offering visiting students a creative way to explore their surroundings 🎨🖌️
March 8, 2025 at 9:13 AM
VOI associations, or Vondron’Olona Ifotony, are grassroots community groups in #Madagascar that sustainably manage the forests their communities depend on through ecotourism and eco restoration. VOI Mitsinjo has managed 440 hectares of forest adjacent to Ranomafana National Park since 2020.
January 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
VOI associations, or Vondron’Olona Ifotony, are grassroots community groups in #Madagascar that sustainably manage the forests their communities depend on through ecotourism and eco restoration. VOI Mitsinjo has managed 440 hectares of forest adjacent to Ranomafana National Park since 2020.
We're relieved to hear from our friends at Centre ValBio that the #fire in Ranomafana National Park is finally out. Heavy rainfall finally came after months, ending an unseasonably long dry spell, and the community worked tirelessly each day to stop the fires from spreading.
January 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
We're relieved to hear from our friends at Centre ValBio that the #fire in Ranomafana National Park is finally out. Heavy rainfall finally came after months, ending an unseasonably long dry spell, and the community worked tirelessly each day to stop the fires from spreading.
Absolutely devastating to hear about the #fire consuming Ranomafana National Park in #Madagascar right now. This rainforest protects countless endangered and endemic species of lemurs, birds, amphibians, plants, & insects.This fire threatens not only them, but all the people living by the park too.
January 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Absolutely devastating to hear about the #fire consuming Ranomafana National Park in #Madagascar right now. This rainforest protects countless endangered and endemic species of lemurs, birds, amphibians, plants, & insects.This fire threatens not only them, but all the people living by the park too.