KENNEDY HEIGHTS ART CENTER
Kennedy Heights, Cincinnati Ohio
Sept. 7 - Nov. 2nd 2024
Gee Horton: Coming of Age Chapter II – A Subtle Farewell To The Inner Child – Gee Horton’s second solo exhibition, Chapter 2: A Subtle Farewell to the Inner Child, deepens his exploration of the inner child by blending personal stories with collective experiences. Building on the themes from his previous work, Chapter 1: Coming of Age, which premiered at the Alice F. & Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in 2021, this new body of work marks a significant evolution in his artistic journey. As a featured artist in the FOTOFOCUS 2024 Biennial, Horton uses a diverse range of mediums—including photography, drawings, cyanotypes, collage, family archives, installations, and videography—to explore identity, belonging, and memory in rich, textured, nuanced, and dynamic ways.

 

A self-taught artist, Horton combines photorealism with contemporary techniques in a unique way. For him, photography is more than a tool; it's central to his creative process. After spending months on detailed drawings, Horton’s approach to photorealism evolves into a deep exploration of human form and texture. His work weaves personal and collective stories into each piece, creating a powerful and detailed exploration of his subjects.

 

When did you first notice your "inner child" slipping away? This question brings to light the fragments of our youth that fade into memory—lost dreams, unmet hopes, and the innocence worn away by the pressures of growing up far too fast. In this exhibition, Horton invites us to engage in a personal dialogue about belonging, memory, and self-discovery. He addresses childhood traumas and seeks to heal fractured relationships, particularly with his father.

 

Echoes of Gee’s personal journey are evident in the stories of six middle-aged African American male subjects whose paths of resilience and restoration overlap, highlighting how the loss of innocence and the search for identity shape our lives. It's a question that encourages us to find healing where possible by reflecting on the enduring impact of our early coming-of-age experiences.

 

The exhibition is divided into four sections, each resonating with both Horton’s personal experiences and collective voices: The Little Boy Inside, which explores childhood innocence and curiosity; Ova Granny’s House, which captures the warmth and wisdom of family connections; The Rupture, which addresses moments of significant change and loss; and Family Business, which examines the idea of belonging through family archival methods. The exhibition culminates with a short film, Be Home Before the Streetlights..., created in collaboration with filmmaker Shay Nartker, reflecting on themes of transformation and healing.

 

Through this exhibition, Horton explores how innocence, creativity, and openness often fade under looming and insistent adult pressures. His work calls on us to consider how our identities evolve over time, urging us to reconnect with the essence of our inner child despite societal demands. By opening up and allowing us to peer into his complex, conflicting, and celebratory considerations of where childhood seems to begin and end, Horton urges us to heal, grow, and transform despite our wounds and the expectations of others—those who are intimate with us and those within the larger society.