Linda Whitney’s mezzotints were born out of childhood love of Native American culture, introduction to printmaking at a very young age and being a very shy dyslexic girl. Her late husband was a traditional powwow dancer. The celebration of the Powwow is a declaration of the strength and tenacity of the indigenous cultures of this continent. The beautiful regalia is a testament to the history and creativity of the people. The drumbeat accompanies the dancers and is felt in one’s chest and is also considered the heartbeat of mother earth. The songs are the oral history of the people.

Whitney’s mezzotint images are printed from hand-rocked copper on Hahnemuhle Copperplate paper, and any added color is pigment gathered from the earth and hand painted. The process is long and gives her time for reflection. Resulting images are not portraits but work to capture the movement of the dancers and the texture, beauty, and detail of the regalia they wear while reflecting strength and tenacity of their history.