Gee Horton: Chapter 2, A Subtle Farewell to the Inner Child

Chapter 2, A Subtle Farewell to the Inner Child, Gee Horton’s second solo exhibition, delves into the artist’s exploration of the inner child. Weaving together personal narratives and collective experiences, this exhibition invites visitors to embark on voyages of healing and self-discovery.

Inspired by a soul-stirring pilgrimage to Senegal, Horton’s journey commences with a “spiritual cowrie shell reading,” unveiling his father’s ailing health. This revelation sparks a cathartic quest, enabling Horton to confront childhood traumas and mend fractured bonds. The artist’s individual life experience is juxtaposed with the collective narrative of six middle-aged African American men from Louisville, Kentucky, and regions of Ohio. These men share parallel journeys of resilience, redemption, and renewal.

Through employing “The Baobab Project,” a multifaceted artistic endeavor integrating photography, collage, and mixed media, Horton explores the nuanced experiences of Black men transitioning from youth to adulthood. Conceptually grounded in majestic African Baobab trees, which symbolize resilience and communal strength, the exhibition draws poignant parallels to the modern-day barbershop—an emblematic space of camaraderie and empowerment within Black communities.

Horton’s exhibition offers a multi-dimensional exploration of Black masculinity and the human spirit with installations and artworks that facilitate dialogue on Blackness, identity, and the enduring power of healing. Through photography, drawings, collage, and videography, including a dynamic short film in collaboration with filmmaker Shay Nartker, Horton crafts an intimate, immersive experience for viewers to reflect, connect, and discover beauty in the journey of self-discovery and resilience.