Skeeter and Pete DeMattia - Kaleidoscopes

Cupid's Arrow	Parlour Scope	Mini Found Object Parlour
Mega Warp Parlour	Swamp Thing	Coke and Ketchup Bottle
	New Kid on the Block

1991, the kaleidoscope world welcomed Skeeter and Peter DeMattia among the ranks of artists. The DeMattias, avid kaleidoscope collectors, began creating stained glass kaleidoscopes. Soon after, Skeeter and Peter turned found objects; car parts, bike gears, fencing, etc., into wonderful works of sculptural beauty.

The DeMattias create unique and exciting optical imagery in each of their monumental designs. They combine flat mirrors with curved glass to create swirling effects, or integrate holograms into the mirror system, which affects both the color and the imagery. Their motto is to avoid the basic two and three mirror systems.

Star Wars has a two-mirror 36 degree system that yields a 5-point symmetry. A single rod of glass is affixed to the black non-reflective third side of the system, that is also repeated around the image, appearing to be multiple rods. The images are reflected along this rod in explosions of color. Star Wars measures 15 inches tall by 12 inches long with a 7 1/2 inch base diameter.

Dark Star has a two-mirror system that yields 8-point symmetry. The third side of the mirror system is black non-reflected board, creased down the center. This acts as a mask to the image, creating an 8-point star-like pattern, similar to the shape that would form if you stacked two squares off-set to each other. Dark Star measures 14 inches tall by 11 inches long with a 6 inch base diameter.

The creative object chambers are both side-lit and back lit. Expertly sculpted lamp-worked glass is combined with milifiore and handmade glass ampoules, blending and contrasting in colors.