Birds of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge • Matt Cohen • Photographer
Opening Reception: First Friday, February 3rd, 2023
Old City Coffee is hosting Birds of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, a collection of photographs by Matt Cohen. Join us for an opening reception to see the work, meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments.
Artist Statement:
The photographs in this collection were taken between January 2022 and January 2023 at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge located near the Philadelphia International Airport in the Eastwick Neighborhood of Philadelphia.
My interest in photographing wildlife began in earnest during the COVID Epidemic. I live in Philadelphia and found that suddenly there was little to do in the city other than walk the nearly deserted streets. I began taking day trips to parks, gardens and nature refuges throughout the Philadelphia region taking photos of flowers, trees, butterflies, insects and of course birds.
I quickly discovered that John Heinz Refuge is an amazing setting for this activity and is just a 15 minutes car-ride from my Old City home. I started concentrating on photographing birds and began to learn their names and migratory habits. Many thanks to the experienced photographers and bird watchers I encountered on my excursions who generously shared their tips and knowledge of the avian world.
This collection of photographs represent some of my best attempts at capturing wild birds in their natural habitat. I am particularly interested in the interplay of light, water and atmosphere in my photographic work. My favorite times to take photographs are early morning and close to sunset, often called the “golden hours” for the quality of light.
I encourage everyone to visit the Refuge, which is open year round and constantly
changes with the seasons. The Spring and Fall Migration periods are particularly good times to view the vast variety of birds, but I have found that any time of year, and any time of day, can be revelatory.
All proceeds from sales from the exhibition, outside of material costs, will be donated to the Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR).
Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR)
About the Artist:
Matt Cohen is a retired New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Administrator, an artist and avid birdwatcher. He has lived in Old City, Philadelphia since the late 1990s and his work has been shown in several exhibitions throughout the City of Philadelphia. He currently serves as a Board Member on the Friends of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
For additional information or to purchase a photograph from the exhibition, please contact Matt directly at [email protected].
You can see more of his work here.
Opening Reception: First Friday, February 3rd, 2023
The show can be viewed during regular business hours: February 3rd – March 21st, 2023
Monday & Tuesday: 7am – 4pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 7am – 5pm
Friday & Saturday: 7am – 5:30pm
Sunday: 8am - 5:30pm
Location: Old City Coffee, 221 Church St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Venue:
Established in 1985, Old City Coffee is a local favorite coffeehouse and shop on a charming cobblestone street in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district. We offer an excellent selection of carefully sourced coffee and tea by the cup or pound. Our full flavored brews use 100% Arabica beans roasted at our sister shop at the historic Reading Terminal Market.
Shows are hung in the cafe.
