Cathartic Dreams Exhibition
WheelHouse Art is pleased to present Cathartic Dreams, a two person exhibition featuring Emily Pfaff and John Paul Kesling. The exhibition opens with an opening reception Friday, September 13, 6:00 - 8:00pm. The show continues through October 26, 2024.
Cathartic Dreams delves into the complex interplay between the nostalgia of childhood and the reality of adulthood. Pfaff’s and Kesling’s paintings evoke a time when imagination was a refuge, a tool for navigating a world both chaotic and wonder-filled. The imagery of lone figures in vast, unconquerable landscapes seesaws between sensations of being small and insignificant and being the center of a universe.
These pieces are vivid depictions of real and imagined childhood memories filtered through an adult’s perspective. Scenes of camaraderie, secret hideouts, and the innocent mischief of youth invite viewers to reflect on the loss of that untainted wonder as one matures. The artists explore the dissonance between the idyllic past and the sobering truths uncovered in adulthood, juxtaposing the safety once felt in fictional dangers with the unsettling revelations about real-life heroes and societal norms.
Pfaff and Kesling both share bright, playfully sincere personalities, and their work perfectly represents their endearing character. Their unreserved imaginations manifest as candid snapshots washing sincerity over encroaching responsibilities, heartbreaks, and unsettling truths of the adult world. They challenge viewers to (re)visit innocent moments with a sense of love, while acknowledging the complexities we were naïvely unaware of but nonetheless shaped us. The artists provide a means of reclaiming the magic of youth, albeit with a more nuanced understanding of its shadows.
Above: EMILY PFAFF, Runner in the Bush. Mixed media on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
Emily Pfaff lives and works in Forest Park, Il. She received her BFA in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2006. She has worked professionally in numerous areas of the arts and has worked extensively on collaborative commissions for film and television. Her work has been seen on platforms like Netflix, Tru TV, and Funny or Die. In 2022 she created a featured piece for Paul Schrader’s film “Master Gardener”. Her paintings hang in private collections across the country, in addition to public and corporate spaces, including a resident commission at the Chicago Board of Exchange.
Above: JOHN PAUL KESLING, Valley of Hope and Jokes. Acrylic, spray paint on canvas, 48 x 36 inches.
John Paul Kesling was born and raised on the banks of the Ohio River, spending much of his time outdoors. He attended Morehead State University in Morehead, KY for his BFA in Arts and spent a semester in Europe studying art history. Kesling went on to receive his MFA in Painting from The Savannah College of Art and Design in 2010. He spent the next six years in Brooklyn, NY immersed in the NYC art scene. In March of 2016, he attended a month-long residency at The Vermont Studio Center. While there, he realized how integral time, space, and nature were to his studio practice and in July, 2016 he relocated to Madison, TN. He now owns a dog.
Above: John Paul Kesling (L) and Emily Pfaff (R)
Cathartic Dreams is a reunion of sorts for Emily Pfaff and John Paul Kesling. Both artists attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, where they met.
Learn more about these artists by checking out:
and
10 Questions with John Paul Kesling
