KD Scope / Ken and Dore Wilhoite

Ken & Dore Wilhoite made their first kaleidoscope in 1990 as a home metal shop project. They were both so pleased with the result that they made scopes as gifts for friends and family. While crude by today’s standards, some of these still exist.

After spending a year or two asking questions and looking at scopes in galleries and art exhibits, Ken & Dore made their first scope for sale in 1992, and attended their first Brewster convention in 1994. During the early years, they continued to work at their day jobs, Dore as a legal department secretary and Ken as corporate assistant controller, at the same aerospace company.  During those years, they worked at learning the craft of kaleidoscope construction and developing the art of design. In 1999, they both left the corporate world to become full time kaleidoscope artists.

Following their early inclinations, Ken & Dore still make the bodies of the scopes from polished brass and aluminum. On the outside of the scope, the dimensions and shape of the metal parts are carefully designed to provide balance and contrast between the differently colored metals. Inside the scopes, great attention is paid to the mirrors and choice of objects in order to produce an interesting and pleasing image. All objects in the chamber are lamp worked by the artists to provide interesting mixes of color and texture.