Kaleidoscope Sculptures
My work with kaleidoscopic images has led me to develop these 'Kaleidoscope Sculptures'. I have been experimenting with mirror cutting techniques for a number of years, and have always wanted to make these pieces, and I am thrilled to be developing them now. I use a special mirror called 'front surface mirror'. Basically the reflective surface is on top of the glass, whereas a regular mirror has the reflective surface beneath a layer of glass.
So, with this special mirror we don't get any refraction of the light. Remember science class when you put a pencil into a flask of water, and it seems to shift the pencil? Well, light traveling through the glass on top of a mirror will do that too. So you see, kaleidoscopes look quite lovely when the light gets to bounce off the mirrored surface uninterrupted!
I plan out the project very carefully before I make any cuts, then I do all my cutting just using my hand and a glass cutter. I tried lots of different methods, but the best results were by holding my breath, and cutting by hand! So I remove mirror, construct the remaining mirror accordingly, then layer tiny pieces into the gaps, resulting in the effects you see below.
Most people are rather skeptical when I tell them that the image they are seeing is mostly reflections, and that there really isn't a glass sphere or solid piece in there. Then they ask me how I get it to float in mid- air,,, and that's when I know I did my job well! These are optical illusions, no smoke and two mirrors.
Fibonaccian Spheres. The spheres are set in Fibonaccian ratio: 2, 3, and 5. This is part of my series studying water, and what it does at various stages, here we see droplets having just split.
'Water Pedestal'. My study of a drop of water rebounding.
'Tear Drop' This is the water as it drips. (My interpretation)
Exterior of 'Fibonaccian Spheres'. $2300
Exterior of 'Teardrop' $2300
Exterior of 'Water Pedestal'. $2300
