Portraits of Harriet Tubman, in art and words

Above is "I Go to Prepare a Place for You" (2021), Bisa Butler's quilted portrait of Harriet Tubman, at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, in Washington, D.C. Last weekend I saw it in person, and it's stunning.

From the artist's website: "Using vibrant colors, Butler transforms photographs that capture the souls, personalities, and humanity of Black men, women, and children into vibrant textile quilts that offer an in-depth, alternative portrayal of the Black experience while uplifting and celebrating the American popular art of quilting."

A new exhibit, "Bisa Butler: The World Is Yours," is up at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York through June 30th. I hope to go soon.

I chose Sonia Sanchez's series "Haiku and Tanka for Harriet Tubman" for a fitting accompaniment to this portrait. Here is an excerpt:

 

9

 

Picture her saying:

You have within you the strength,

the patience, and the passion

to reach for the stars,

to change the world    ...    

 

Read the rest online at the Poetry Foundation.

 

*****

The Poetry Friday roundup for May 26th takes place at Patricia Franz's blog, Reverie.

Photo by ST.

Comments

[Sally Murphy]

What a stunning portrait, and the haiku and tanka make a perfect match. I love the sequence of the poems which work together to create a powerful word portrait and the repetition of 'picture' and 'imagine' asks the reader to really connect with those events, with Harriet Tubman's amazing strength. .

[Susan Thomsen]

Sally, yes, Harriet Tubman's strength comes through in both the art and the poems! Both really draw us in, as you're saying.

[PATRICIA J FRANZ]

Such a strong portrait and yes, perfectly matched words! "Picture a woman..." It feels fitting that we lift up Harriet Tubman - and all those who lost their lives to slavery - this Memorial Day weekend.

[Susan T.]

Patricia, yes, exactly! An American hero to remember this weekend, along with many others.

[Linda Baie]

Harriet's story brings artists to do their best, doesn't it? Every time I see another response to her life, I am in awe. Butler's dress, amazing, then the poems you shared, showing her inspiration to give others part of her strength. Thanks, Susan!

[Linda Mitchell]

I LOOOOOOVE Bisa Butler's work. She is amazing. Thank you for highlighting this portrait. It gives such depth to the subject. I would love to go to the exhibit in NY. Someday, I will go to all the artists dates that I want. This haiku series is strength...thank you for introducing me to it.

[Bridget Magee]

Butler's portrait with Sanchez's poem = the perfect pairing. Thanks for sharing, Susan. :)

[Mary Lee]

Another standing ovation for your choice of poem to go with this art, especially the repetition of "picture" and "imagine." And this stanza:
"Imagine a woman
asking: How many workers
for this freedom quilt    ...   "

I am imagining not just the individual souls that Tubman rescued, but all the generations  who owe their lives to her.

And I am reminded of a beloved work of art here in Columbus, Nocturne Navigator by Alison Saar.

[tanita]

I love, love, LOVE that poem (picture her saying, "a dead runaway could tell no secrets...") - it's so much like a prism, all the facets giving and bending light, showing you so many ...faces.

And then this ART!

WOW.

[janice scully]

Great post! I live a half hour from Auburn, NY, where Harriet Tubman lived and am always fascinated by her courage and her amazing treks south to bring family and friends north. This quilt is astounding! To achieve a fabric portrait! I've seen other quilted portraits of her at the Schweinfurth Museum in Auburn during their yearly quilt show. Also, thanks for sharing these haiku.

[Susan T.]

Linda B., yes to all! The Visual Arts gallery was a favorite part of the AAMHC, though we need to go back and see more. A three-hour visit was just a start. So much to see.

Linda M., you are so fortunate to have known about Butler's work. It was new to me, and now I just want to know more.

Bridget, you're so welcome. There's another good poem at the Poetry Foundation on the same subject: Robert Hayden's "Runagate Runagate." https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52947/runagate-runagate

Mary Lee, that's so cool to hear about the statue. The generations, yes! So. many. people.

Tanita, I've only read a little of Sanchez's work (my bad), and I just loved this. The art blew me away.

Janice, you're welcome. You're quite close to her home! Have you visited?

[Tabatha]

Just was exploring Bisa Butler's website... Thanks for sharing her work and Sonia Sanchez' poetry! Perfect pairing.

[Susan T.]

You're so welcome, Tabatha. I was amazed when I saw that quilt last weekend, and had to share!

[Michelle Kogan]

Bisa Butler's work is gorgeous, such a vibrant and striking image she created. I saw an exhibit of hers also in person at the Chicago Art Institute, thanks Susan for sharing this piece and the poem.

[Susan]

That’s awesome that you’ve seen her work, too, Michelle. I can’t wait to see more of it soon,

[Karen Edmisten]

Wow, that portrait is incredible! So rich and gorgeous. And the poem — again, incredible, powerful. Thanks for this pairing, Susan.

[Susan T.]

You're so welcome, Karen. I could have hung out with that portrait all day!

[Rose Cappelli]

Thank you sharing this stunning piece of art and also the series of poems. So powerful.

[Susan T.]

You're so welcome, Rose. I thought they were really powerful, too, and have enjoyed learning more about the work of both artist and poet.

[jama]

Beautiful pairing of art and poetry!! I'm also a big Bisa Butler fan (how lucky you were to see her work in person)! And Sanchez's haiku/tanka sequence is powerful and compelling. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Susan Thomsen]

Jama, thanks for stopping by. I am late to the Bisa Butler party, but I'm glad I got here!

[Lou Piccolo]

That is a beautiful portrait, and the poetry inspiring. It's easy to forget that people like Harriet Tubman were not thinking about how they were making history when they were making it, but simply fighting for what they believed in. Seeing it that way makes their achievements even more inspiring. Persistence in the face of adversity is truly a sign of bravery.
Thank you for this lovely post, Susan, I didn't know that the portrait or the poetry existed before today.

[Susan T.]

Hi, Lou. You're welcome! The portrait really caught my attention in the museum. "Persistence in the face of adversity is truly a sign of bravery." Well put. I agree!

[Carol Varsalona]

Susan, the artwork of Harriet Tubman is splendid and brings to life her character of strength and vibrancy in one beautiful quilt-"her legs inhaling moons". I wish I was still in NY looking at this quilt. Thank you for bringing this amazing artwork to my attention.

[Laura Purdie Salas]

Wow, that's a stunning quilt. I've been to that museum, but only once, and I somehow missed this. If I make it back, I'll surely look for this. Thanks for the poem, which feels perfect.

[Susan T.]

Carol and Laura, the quilt is amazing and looking for something to accompany it led me to the amazing Sonia Sanchez work. So I would not have known about either had I not been at the museum in DC! I can't wait to see the show at the gallery in NYC, which is closed for Memorial Day weekend but open again soon.

[Robyn Hood Black]

Beautiful tribute, Susan - thanks for sharing these treasures. Plans are in the works for a new Harriet Tubman memorial in our former town of Beaufort, SC. (She was amazingly brave and active in that area during the Civil War.) Can't imagine how gorgeous that quilt is in person!

[Susan Thomsen]

De nada, Robyn. Thanks for reading. That's great about the new memorial!