Preserving the Passion
Jeff Kesinger
Artist Statement
I wanted this design to pay homage to the classic car show participants that keep the spirit of Route 66 alive. The centerpiece of my design is the 1934 Ford Deluxe, a car that represents an original cruiser for those early highway pioneers. In my eyes, the vehicles and the people who restore and drive them are the ones who make sure the story doesn’t end.
The two pistons included in the design represent the raw power and motion required to cross the country. I wanted to show that the “roar” of a V8 engine is more than just noise; it’s the heartbeat of a culture. By including these engine components alongside the classic lines of the ’34 Ford, I am connecting the beauty of the car to the work and passion it takes to keep it rolling from show to show.
The sculpture’s color scheme is designed to be bold and capture attention from a distance. The bright red background makes the original green of the ’34 Ford stand out in high contrast, mirroring the vibrant energy of a busy car show. I also chose an off-white for the lettering to give it a timeless, vintage feel, ensuring the design feels rooted in the history it celebrates.
Thank you to our Sculpture Sponsor
Jeff Kesinger
Jeff Kesinger is a Springfield, Missouri, artist specializing in representational oil painting, focusing on private portraits for honoring loved ones or celebrating achievements, still life and high-quality replicas of Old Master works. Having dedicated years of formal and intensive study, he has successfully recreated masterworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer, William Bouguereau, and others.
Jeff’s practice is defined by a unique, multi-layered approach that builds a composition from a soft, blurred foundation into a sharp, high-focused finish. He prioritizes the use of professional-grade, archival materials to ensure each piece possesses exceptional depth and long-term permanence. By combining the disciplined observation of 17th and 19th-century masters with modern, solvent-free techniques, he achieves a refined level of detail that is both technically precise and visually striking. This fusion of historical study and craftsmanship allows Jeff to produce works that honor the precision of the past while meeting the highest standards of contemporary fine art.