Scopeworks / Wiley Jobe
The Artists’ Side
I began building kaleidoscopes in the autumn of 1987 to amuse a little friend. However, that Sunday afternoon project quickly got out of control as I began to experiment with different mirror combinations and construction techniques. At the time, I had never heard of Sir David Brewster, and was blissfully unaware that a kaleidoscope Renaissance has already started without me and was in fact, well under way. But what a great time I had making all those “serendipitous discoveries”, anyway!
In retrospect, maybe being isolated from all the other scope artists was a blessing, as it allowed me to develop my own style, although I freely admit a great fascination with the scientific instruments and architecture of the late nineteenth century. And I will always owe Cozy Baker, the Guardian Angel of the Kaleidoscope Artist, a debt of gratitude for all her help and inspiration.
My shop is located in the nether regions of our spacious 87 q. ft. home in Honeoye Falls (pronounced Honey-Oy), between Rochester and the picturesque Finger Lakes of Upstate New York, where I live with my lovely wife Vanessa, the ghost of a mindless basset hound, an uppity parakeet, and a ferocious hunting cat, who keeps the entire country safe and free of pesky rodents and birds. And frogs. And bats.
When not building kaleidoscopes, I enjoy playing bass and piano with an aging Blues band, astronomy, fishing, and flying kites and airplanes. My goal is to sell enough kaleidoscopes to buy an old biplane and go barnstorming around the country, giving free plane rides, and then retire to a small island on the south Pacific. I think it’s a great plan!
Well… what kind of artist would I be, if I wasn’t a dreamer?
Blessed be the spectrum,
Wiley Jobe