Working South: Paintings and Sketches by Mary Whyte
Something precious and disappearing that is honored by art has increased chances of being preserved--and honored anew.  Mary Whyte's magical and elegant paintings and sketches do battle with that great modern two-faced robber: technology.   Clyde Edgerton, southern author and artistWhyte shares incredibly moving portraits of southerners who work on the edge--invisible to mainstream America. Through her paintings, sketches, and text, she captures workers like an oyster shucker in Urbanna, Virginia; a boatbuilder in Bayou la Batre, Alabama; and an elevator operator in Jackson, Mississippi. She celebrates and honors their lives in this truly memorable volume.  William R. Ferris, Center for the Study of the American South, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMary Whyte is a magnificent artist who has mastered watercolor--one of the most difficult of all painting mediums. Here, she shows us phenomenal skill in portraying rural southern life with an empathy that celebrates the spirit of her subjects, their great passion for their work, and their resilience in facing life's hurdles. Her written narratives which accompany these images are as delightful, tender, and moving as the art itself.  Jonathan Green, southern artist