I look for the darkness in the light, the mystery in the everyday.

I spend my time blending nature and the figure into a narrative for the viewer.

My mind is wandering, wondering, where my next image hides.

I concede to my impulses and instincts to bring mysteries to light.

When Covid19 became a real threat to us all, and lock down occurred, I was in shock. Shock then turned to fear as this new reality set in. I became paralyzed fearing for the health of myself, my family, and friends. Covid, is the invisible enemy creating a fear that is palatable since we do not know where the virus lurks. My way of survival was to channel my fear into creative endeavors of photography. This led me to create this collection “Sanctuary.”

In the safety and shelter of my home, I embrace my solitary time and the quietness. I feel free to create as I am able to hear the voice that guides my work. I listen to music daily and sometimes find myself dancing alone.

So, when thinking about home during this present reality I look to sea creatures such as clams, conch, nautilus, and oysters who carry their homes with them. Their shells are used for shelter as they retreat for safety and protection. Their home is their sanctuary. At this moment in time and for the foreseeable future we need our masks to move outside of our protective shells.

Sequestered in my home unable to continue to photograph in my usual way, I began to upcycle my previous pinhole images. This collection of work is the result of a more illustrative and interdisciplinary approach to collage. These collages are a metaphor encompassing our collective selves in this extraordinary and unparalleled time.

According to the Audubon Society the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) which was passed in 1918 to protect native species birds from being, killed, hunted, sold or possessed is being threaten today.  

These images are to remind us of the harmony and balance in nature. The portrayal of “Birds of Glory Series” has been inspired by the painters that depicted the pristine Arcadian landscape in the early 1800’s before the rise of the Industrial Revolution

My work has been created to meld the Arcadian landscape with current birds of today. 

These images are to remind us of the harmony and balance that occurs in nature.  The birds are a metaphor for our fragile environment and the role each of us play as stewards of our natural world.

Topiary, the art of growing dense, leafy plants by pruning or training them into three-dimensional geometric or animal-like forms, can trace it roots to the ancient Romans. During the 1700s in Europe, topiary gardens were popular among wealthy landowners. The first topiary garden in the United States was created in Rhode Island around the turn of the twentieth century.

These living sculptures have been the focus of photographer Hope Kahn since 2010. Her fascination with evergreen yew clipped into cones, cubes, spirals, and many other shapes has led her to visit and photograph majestic gardens in Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. She is drawn to the poetic nature of topiary gardens and how they enhance the exquisite beauty, mystery, and symbolism of their surreal landscapes.

Geometry In Nature focuses on the symmetry of forms found in beautifully structured gardens and how human interaction with nature can create playful, contemplative, and serene public environments. Kahn’s work has been published in the magazines National Aperture and Philadelphia and is found in numerous corporate collections including Glaxo Smith Kline, Kerner & Kerner, The Rittenhouse Hotel, Sterling Drug Company, and Price Waterhouse.  This work made it's debut at SFO Museum in a Solo Show.