Patrick and Holly Kahn have made it official: The Snap! art gallery concept they brought to Orlando 15 years ago has closed down. Patrick Kahn disclosed last month that he is being treated for a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

“While difficult to do, it now feels like the right time to close this chapter,” Kahn wrote in a statement to supporters. “My health and personal battle with cancer over the years has become increasingly difficult, leading to many heart-to-heart conversations between my wife and partner, Holly, and I. We decided that while Snap! as an organization will not continue, its legacy and the love of the arts it spawned will.”

The statement was part of the photography and digital art gallery’s December newsletter, titled “Farewell: Thank You for 15 Years.”

Separately, in a phone call, Kahn said he wanted people to remember the gallery as inspiration to be boldly creative: “to keep Snap! more of a spark, a memory or something that ignited something new here.”

Snap! Orlando started as a series of pop-up shows before moving into a brick-and-mortar space, the old Cameo Theater on Colonial Drive. Later, the gallery moved to a sleek space near Thornton Park in the 420 East building.

The newsletter reflected poetically on the journey.

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“In our time together, we repurposed abandoned warehouses into galleries, and projected building-sized 3D creations. Wakeboarders painted with light and paraglided with Red Bull,” it stated. “A historic movie theater in the Mills 50 District called to us…  We became a hub for artist dinners, talks, tours, and we collaborated with numerous arts organizations and museums. When we found our way to Church Street, works created by local, regional, and international artists continued to find a place on our walls.”

The Church Street gallery’s final exhibit — an annual photography showcase of local, national and international artists — closed Dec. 21. An exhibit of works by Dan L. Hess, “Earth’s Last Picture,” continues at Orlando City Hall’s Terrace Gallery through January.

Also continuing: Snap’s “City Unseen” project, an augmented-reality art show that encompasses all of Orlando. It’s available to view by downloading the free City Unseen app on a mobile device. While the project likely won’t be updated further because of the labor and technological and artistic expertise required, “whatever exists, exists,” Kahn said.

The newsletter paid tribute to his enduring dedication.

“For decades, including during Snap! Orlando’s existence, he’s been quietly fighting cancer,” it stated. “Yet, no matter what, he’s worked tirelessly to make every event happen, fueled by his deep desire to foster the arts community in Orlando and beyond.”

For his part, Kahn said he was “forever grateful” to have worked with the Central Florida art community.

“Thank you all for the opportunity to share a big part of my heart with you,” he wrote. “I hope that as you approach each and every new day, you find the gems of beauty that inspire your life through art.”

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