Whitney, Artist Statement and Bio
Thematically I am a narrative artist. Images are appropriated from either the Powwow interlaced with Hollywood or from the indigenous people of Turtle Island and filtered through my point of view to tell the tale of the coming of the Europeans, small pox, and the near annihilation of the people of this region. These historic and grand cultures were all but decimated in a few short years and those left standing were cheated of their traditions, religion,and freedoms. But, the ancient voices were not silenced and the drumbeats are strong again.
The celebration of the Powwow is one public declaration of the strength and tenacity of the indigenous cultures of this continent. Hollywood finds a place in the images but as an interloper and with tongue-in-cheek humor. Both the Powwow and They Came mezzotints are born from research, developed with a lot of wishful thinking, and then filtered through a contemporary point of view. I am intrigued by societies rich in imbedded belief systems and texture of ritual. I am fascinated by the way groups, historically and contemporarily, structure the day upon ceremonies, beliefs, and rituals. I appropriate interesting images or concepts from these various cultural fabrics, add a bit of contemporary color, and weave it all into my idea of story telling.
Although seemingly disparate, work created from childhood memories and from adult research spring from similar place. In both the images and my remembrances are appropriated and darkened with contemporary political meaning. The narrative is realized in the mezzotint processes and printed on Hahnemuhle copperplate paper.
Whitney is professor emeritus who lives in her studio. Her mezzotints have traveled throughout North America and Europe; and to Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Nicaragua, and Russia. Her work was given one of four international awards at the International Mezzotint Festival in Ekaterinburg, Russia in 2019. Exhibitions in 2021 include: Indigenous: The Contemporary, Watersmeet, MI (award); Ink Only III – PaperWorkers, Birmingham, AL (award); National Juried Exhibition. Norfolk, VA (award); 62nd Midwestern Exhibition. Rourke Museum Moorhead, MN (award); Mapping Narratives: New Prints 2021/Winter Exhibition. International
Print Center, NY, NY; Gala Exhibition and Auction. Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND; Third International Biennial Exhibition. Yerevan, Arminia; Print Club of Rochester 2021 Exhibition. RIT City Art Center, Rochester, NY; Cimarron National Works on Paper, OSU; Indianapolis Art Center’s Exhibition “Women’s Work” Indianapolis, IN; 2021 Delta National Small Prints. Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas; Webster Arts’ Under Pressure National Exhibition, Webster Grove, MO; Parkside National, Parkside, WI; America’s Paperworks 2021 NAC, MSU, Minot, ND; 57th JFAA Annual Art Exhibition. The Arts Center, Jamestown, ND (award); Prairie Village Arts Council State of the Arts Exhibition. Kansas. Hand Magazine. November Issue; Exhibizone 5th International Smart Online Group Exhibition, Canada and Heroes and Legends an online Exhibition, Ontario, Canada: Exhibitions thus far scheduled for 2022 include: Northwest Arts Center’s INT’L Paperworks 2022, Minot State University; Delta National Small Prints Exhibition, Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas State University; 2022 PrintAustin 5×5 Exhibition, Austin, TX; Women’s Printmaking Invitational 2022, Kent State University, Four Rivers Print Biennial, Southern Illinois Printworks at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL. She has a solo exhibition schedule for 2023 in Ohio.
Website:
https://www.lwhitneystudio.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lwhitneystudio/