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About Artists with Work Currently at The Mirrors and Light Gallery
| John Culver |
| John Culver was among the first kaleidoscope artists to use marbles as the object. A great feature on John and other scope artists can be found in a book called “Kaleidoscope Renaissance,” by Cozy Baker (Beechcliff Books, 1993) that you can source at Amazon.com. Many of John’s early scopes featured natural objects, like stones and shells – he even used a shell as the body of a scope. Working in both paper mâché and glass, he consistently combined insight into nature and the world inside the kaleidoscope.
Currently showing in the Gallery – Shantidevi – John’s parlor scope tribute to the glass artist, Shantidevi. The object is a mouth-blown Shantidevi 3” marble. The scope’s unique image is produced by tapered mirrors in the sculptured barrel. Since Shanti is no longer creating marbles, the scope is rare. We’ve seen Shanti marbles of this size selling for $300 or more.
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| Skeeter and Peter DeMattia |
Click here for Artist Interview transcript.
Skeeter and Peter DeMattia are, as they say, “somethin’ else!” You know when you’ve seen their work because there is simply nothing out there like it. Skeeter works in stained glass and performs the intricate glass cutting on band and ring saws, and handles most of the decorative soldering that sets apart so many of their kaleidoscopes, especially the jewelry scopes. Peter handles the metal work, welding, brazing, cutting, and design. Since they started making scopes in 1991, they have consistently produced unique scopes including one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces. Their work has been shown in 14+ exhibitions since 1992. Working in a variety of formats from necklaces, to desktop, handheld, and parlor scopes, flat ones, skinny ones, and ones made of found pieces – their creativity seems to know no limits.
Currently showing in the Gallery – Parlour Warp Factor – a limited edition, #4 of 25. A grand scope with built-in light for viewing and dynamite image.
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| Don Doak |
| Don began making kaleidoscopes in 1986. Since that time, he has created, and patented, several innovations in geometric mirror images. He has won awards that indicate the significance of his contribution to the world of kaleidoscopes. In 1992, he won the Brewster Society Award for Creative Ingenuity at the Brewster Society convention for his scope “Kaleidosphere,” which uses a series of tapered mirrors to produce a geodesic dome of color. In 1995, Don won the People’s Choice Award, Limited Edition, Best Image, for his “Pandora’s Box,” which produces a dodecahedron image (a five-sided, 3-dimensional image). Don’s mathematical precision and imagination have produced giant scopes that you walk up to view, handheld scopes that need both hands to hold them, and more traditionally sized scopes. He’s produced scopes with electronics, lights, and movement. All in all, one of the most innovative artists in the medium.
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| Marti Freund |
| Marti Freund loves nature and, through her unique art and craft, captures and presents nature to us. Marti raises gourds and, out of them, she creates wonderful one-of-a-kind animal kaleidoscopes. Her scopes are beautifully painted and carved with contemporary representations of animals. Marti started creating kaleidoscopes of stained glass, metal, and antique mirrors in 1981, and her art has broadened and matured over the years. Every element of a Freund scope is handcrafted. If you see one of Marti’s scopes you want to see them all! |
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| Ritama Haaga |
| Ritama Haaga is a mixed media artist who no longer makes kaleidoscopes. We miss them. Ritama is a master of lampworking and her whimsical scopes like, Toucan Sam on the Loose (lampworked Toucan, palm trees, other good stuff) on the barrel, and Acropolis, a parlor scope with lampworked classic figures and acropolis reproduction. Ritama now focuses on furniture with cast glass elements, engraved glass, and other mixed media. |
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| Jack Lazerowski |
| One of the original members of the Geoghagan Company, makers of the beautiful Phoenix ™ flutes, was among the first artists to create sphere images by using tapered mirrors. Jack and his business partner, Tim Grannis, of Prism Designs created the Geoscope and other innovative contemporary teleidoscopes and kaleidoscopes. |
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| Christie Moody |
| Christie Moody is a glass artist. She received her BFA in Art Education at the University of Georgia. She creates hotworked, fused and slumped glass panels, bowls, platters, ornaments, and “Avian Whims” (flying birds and insects). Among her teachers were Dan Fenton, Paul Marioni, and Frank van den Ham, all accomplished artists in their own rights. She experimented with kaleidoscopes in her Aquasphere series which included a number of different treatments on the Aquasphere theme. |
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| Sherry Moser |
| Sherry Moser is one of the medium’s most honored artists. In 1991 she won the Brewster Society Award for Creative Ingenuity for her scope, “Journey,” which, for the first time made the mirrors themselves an integral part of the image. In 1995, collaboration between Sherry Moser and Judith Paul, entitled “The Monet Gallery,” won the same award. In 1994 she shared the Brewster Society People’s Choice Award for her scope, “Circle of Friends,” and won the 1996 People’s Choice Award in the Best Non-Limited Edition category for “Wishes”. From her work as a pediatric oncology nurse, Sherry came to depend on making kaleidoscopes for stress reduction for herself, but now, her career is providing stress reduction for US as we view her scopes. She has perfected the unusual technique of making liquid-filled ampules that can be placed in a scope object, thus creating flowing patterns within patterns.
Currently in the Gallery – The Light Dancer – A pink stained glass 6-sided barrel scope has a side-lit chamber with dichroic windows has its own flashlight which, when passed over the side-lights makes the image dance. The scope is signed.
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| Arny Weinstein |
| Arny Weinstein spent many years designing and developing computer software. We should not be surprised that the world of optics and kaleidoscopes appealed to him. Arny loves working with wood. His scopes are contemporary and demonstrate a master’s skill in the woodworked exteriors. Very active in scope making in the last several years, Arny’s work is available at more and more fine art and craft stores.
Currently in the Gallery – Miserioso – a contemporary parlor scope made of African Rosewood and Ebony. Two fluid-filled object cells are provided with the scope. New. Masterful.
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| Joe Wisely |
| Joe and Patty Wisely are California-based stained glass artists who create kaleidoscopes with stained glass and glass rod bodies, wheels, or oil-suspended wands for objects. Their commitment to oil-filled wand objects has resulted in some dramatic scopes with flowing images.
Currently in the Gallery – Super-Size Wand Scope – one of the largest we are likely to carry, this scope sits on the floor in its own glass holder. Wonderful images and great fun! Mint condition.
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| David York |
| David York started making kaleidoscopes in 1987. His hobby (call it an avocation) is star observation. Maybe those stars were a significant influence on David’s work. David has created several scope lines using stained glass bodies with a tapered design and tapered mirror systems. Using wheels as objects, he completes the wheels with stained and fused glass, shells, and other sea-related objects.
Currently in the Gallery – Two fine scopes, one Blue York and one Purple York, both in Mint condition and signed by the artist.
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