Johnny from the series Post-Pleistocene

Whetstone's photographs explore the relationship between people and nature. His "Post-Pleistocene" series examines the history of human-made markings in the saltpeter caves in Tennessee and Alabama. Since these caves were first used in the Civil War for the manufacturing of gunpowder, people have made their presence known with wall markings in these subterranean spaces. Historical imprints and brightly colored contemporary graffiti cover the caves, creating a form of vernacular American history of writing and drawing, as well as a chronological compression of the history of human presence in these caves. Johnny communicates the universal need to express one's individuality and place in the world.