Homage: Poem-making Inspired by Rita Deanin Abbey
By JM Huck
Ekphrasis is creative writing inspired by artwork. There are many entry points to this type of writing; I wrote about a few of them in a recent Ekphrastic Writing Challenge.
It took three visits before I could write this ekphrastic poem on one of the artworks at the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum in Las Vegas. I had the privilege of meeting Executive Director Laura Sanders and the artist’s surviving spouse, Robert Belliveau. Although the artist kept a mostly private life, a 35-year retrospective is available for reference at Las Vegas’ Sahara West Library.
Deanin Abbey’s oeuvre intrigued me on multiple levels. First, she was a fearless experimenter. In the collection, you will see a range of mediums, from oil to steel, acrylic to watercolor, printmaking to porcelain. A few of her larger works reminded me of a visit to see the murals of Clyfford Still, at his dedicated museum. I also loved the minimalist aspect of many 2D works. Some of them I would describe as having a certain Japanese aesthetic, I’m pretty confident in my ability to spot it having lived in Japan for three years!
Today I share a shorter poem, so that I may describe my composition choices.
Artwork by Rita Deanin Abbey. Pinon Jays, 1996, Plexiglass relief.
©Robert Rock Belliveau and Rita Deanin Abbey Foundation.27 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches. Art Series: Plexiglass Reliefs and Maquettes 1996.
PINYON JAYS
lightning strikes
prismic shadow / string-lit stars
east winds rush to / shave the ridgeline
a yearling can’t see / his flock
blood / curdling caw
out of ash a zebra
sunrise divides
the dawn
This poem is about separation. I kept it concise because the image is rendered concisely. Deanin Abbey’s original used a limited palette: primary colors and black. The effect is a bold image, like a cut-out from Matisse’s later years, or perhaps, graphic design piece. I incorporated forward slashes to mimic the jagged edges dividing the canvas. It is also a shape poem, with lines forming a triangle to suggest separation and divide. I consider this work minimalist because of its pared down and economical nature, much in the spirit of haiku.
As a writer, I often try to apply an eco-critical lens to my work. Pinyon Jays are a keystone species to the Mojave. They depend on Pinyon Pine habitat, which for various reasons, faces challenges. This poem is an attempt at environmental advocacy, to raise awareness of vulnerable species and their conservation.
If interested in joining a poem-reading or poem-writing session in Las Vegas, you can catch me at Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve on February 24, 2024, or the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum on February 25, 2024.
Judi Mae “JM” Huck is an Asian American poet and teaching artist in Las Vegas, Nevada, passionate about community engagement. In 2023 JM co-founded We Write to offer generous support for emerging writers to develop their craft. Huck’s poetry synthesizes her understanding of culture, history, nature, and science.
Double Down Blogger photo courtesy of JM Huck.