Todd Hahn
Stonemason
TODD HAHN
Stonemason
Yellow Springs, OH
In the middle of my circular driveway is a low area approximately 30' x 20' that I've turned in to a wetlands - dry creek bed by adding riverstones, boulders, and various plant, mostly ferns. After a good rain it fills up with water and acts as a pond with the tops of stones and plants peeking out of the water. When the weather is dry it's simply a dry creek bed. I have made several bird baths and the bubbler I have in my back yard is a favorite of the robins in the area who like to bathe in it.
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With a little imagination and hard work you can take just about any kind of stone and make art. Stone native to an area is always a plus because it looks like it belongs. Anyone with access to a piece of land with trees and stones (a creek would be an added bonus) has the makings of a creative landscape project. Creating installations that come from nature and don't require going to a major supply company for materials is extremely rewarding. For people with a strong back with the will and way I would highly recommend stonemasonry -- it has an unlimited potential for creative and practical projects.
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An old friend introduced me to general stonework about twenty years ago while we were working at a nursery in Nelson County, VA. After working there for a week I became his right hand man. We did a combination of planting and different types of stonework -- water features, retaining walls, benches, steps, patios, and pathways. After a year or so he moved on and I became the stone boss at the nursery. My skills improved gradually and I specialized in large retaining wall job.
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I left the nursery in 2003 and worked independently doing the same kind of work in the area until 2011 when I relocated to Yellow Springs, OH. Not long after I moved in to my house I started doing different projects on the property as well as other jobs in town. These combined the kind of work I used to do with new techniques and ideas I'd had in mind for awhile. I found myself creating geometric shapes such as squares, triangles, rectangles, and pyramids out of riverstone and mortar. I worked with an eye on detail, distributing my pieces across a project site. They worked great for such things as raised flower beds and sometimes I buttressed them with large boulders.
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Some of the sculptures I build are practical and some are not. For my personal projects I have only one rule--no two things can be alike.
PORTFOLIO
Some examples of my work
I thought a classical egg shape would look interesting buttressed by medium size boulders
An experiment with negative space
One of the less practical and more highly skilled pieces I've made. I get much satisfaction from creating geometric shapes like this and the egg out of natural stone.
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
Provides the birds with a place to bathe and the deer with something to drink. I like providing a water source for the neighborhood wildlife.
These were the first two things I built in my back yard. They are on top of an old foundation which appealed to be as I didn't have to dig a footer for them. One of them incorporates space and the other incorporates bricks with the stonework.
Provides the birds with a place to bathe and the deer with something to drink. I like providing a water source for the neighborhood wildlife.
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
One of the less practical and more highly skilled pieces I've made. I get much satisfaction from creating geometric shapes like this and the egg out of natural stone.
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
Provides the birds with a place to bathe and the deer with something to drink. I like providing a water source for the neighborhood wildlife.
First attempt using small riverstone and mortar to make a geometric.
Combined locust posts with boulders and smaller stones to make this planter
I think this is one of the nicer things I've built. I wanted a nice example to show of in my back yard.
Made using mortar and fieldstone. This is another project playing with negative spaces.
Arches are cool and not easy to make. This is not a true arch but stands on its own with the strength qualities of a real arch. It has a counterbalance stone on one end to prevent collapsing in the middle.
I had the bricks, so why not?
I wanted a circulating water source. Anything for the robins.
These were the first two things I built in my back yard. They are on top of an old foundation which appealed to be as I didn't have to dig a footer for them. One of them incorporates space and the other incorporates bricks with the stonework.
These were the first two things I built in my back yard. They are on top of an old foundation which appealed to be as I didn't have to dig a footer for them. One of them incorporates space and the other incorporates bricks with the stonework.
The reason I came to Ohio was to construct this wall which can be seen in satellite imaging of the area
These were the first two things I built in my back yard. They are on top of an old foundation which appealed to be as I didn't have to dig a footer for them. One of them incorporates space and the other incorporates bricks with the stonework.
First thing I constructed on my current property.
A taste of zen, the meditation part of my yard.
An experiment with negative space
These were the first two things I built in my back yard. They are on top of an old foundation which appealed to be as I didn't have to dig a footer for them. One of them incorporates space and the other incorporates bricks with the stonework.
I had more locust posts and the raccoons needed a roof over their heads.
Combined locust posts with boulders and smaller stones to make this planter
