Kim Hubbard
With the same attention to detail paid throughout the planning and implementation of McLemore, leaders have selected a local artist with an international resume to display art throughout the new Cloudland Hotel, said officials.
Kim Hubbard is a native Chattanoogan and award-winning photographer who served for five years as a senior photo editor for National Geographic, 10 years as a photographer and editor for Audubon, and a year as a senior photo editor at the White House. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Discover, Discovery Channel, Film Comment, Audubon, National Wildlife, and natgeo.com, as well as in three solo shows. The 1991 graduate of UTC has been taking photos since the age of four and has found herself traveling the globe on assignments to capture everything from Kodiak bears in Alaska to organic tea farming in India.
Because of The Cloudland’s unusual characteristics and setting, the creative design team worked closely with the brand to find an artist whose work would make an equally unique experience for guests.
As leaders from McLemore were considering numerous artists for the new hotel, they focused on the significance of the area. “We wanted to find an artist whose work would mirror our respect for the beauty of McLemore," said McLemore President Duane Horton. "In addition, we wanted to find pieces that would encourage exploration and observation of the most simple, yet in many instances, most beautiful aspects of the property. Kim Hubbard was the perfect choice for McLemore and we’re honored to have 500 pieces of her work displayed throughout the hotel."
When Ms. Hubbard first visited McLemore, she fell in love with the beauty—not just the stunning views, but also the wildflowers, the rocks, the trees, the birds. Tasked with creating a series of “botanical portraits,” Ms. Hubbard sought to honor the small things that are often overlooked. She wanted to treat the common clover with as much reverence as the majestic vista of McLemore Cove. As a gentle way to underscore the significance of McLemore’s commitment to the respect of the land, each piece selected will be of botanical species that are native to the region.
Executive Vice President of Marketing IV Whitman said, “It took over a year and a half to find the perfect artist. We needed someone who grew up in the area and appreciate its nuances, as well as someone whose work would stand up to the scale of the hotel. We could not be more happy to have the guest rooms and public spaces of Cloudland occupied with the photography of Kim Hubbard. She will be providing our guests with fresh eyes from which to enjoy and appreciate creation.”
Ms. Hubbard’s assignments have taken her from festivals in North Korea to dinosaur digs in Montana. She may be best known for producing “Cheetahs on the Edge”, a groundbreaking video for National Geographic. As The Cloudland’s first artist-in-residence, Ms. Hubbard’s images aren’t the only thing that will be shared with guests. Ms. Hubbard will present a series of talks and photography workshops to share her unique insights and experiences with guests.
As she plans for the pieces that will be placed at The Cloudland Hotel, Ms. Hubbard said, “My family has always loved nature, especially flowers. I returned to Chattanooga in 2020 to care for my dad, and taking pictures of our local wildflowers was one of the few things we could still do together. I've taken pictures all over the world, but this is home. With every photograph in The Cloudland Hotel, I want to convey my respect and admiration for this remarkable area and its history.”
For more information about Kim Hubbard, visit: https://www.kimhubbardphoto.com.
For more information about The Cloudland Lookout Mountain Curio Collection by Hilton, visit: https://www.themclemore.com/stay/cloudland-lookout-mountain-curio-collection-by-hilton