Haven’s stars- Montana artist’s Kaleidoscopes are works of art for the ages

Attractive as the cherry wood sculptures are on the outside, it’s what you see inside that’s magical

In 1816, Scottish physics prodigy Sir David Brewster invented an optical device that enabled the user to enter a fantastic new visual universe.

By DARYL GADBOW of the Missoulian

Brewster named his creation the kaleidoscope, from the Greek words kalos, or beautiful; eidos, or form; and scopos, or watcher. Thus: the beautiful form watcher. Using principles of light that he discovered, Brewster found that when objects are viewed through mirrors arranged at certain angles, the reflection produces complex geometric patterns of intricately intertwined shapes and colors.

Three years ago, John Haven of Florence purchased a high-quality kaleidoscope through the Internet as an anniversary present for his wife. An inveterate tinkerer and skilled woodcraftsman, Haven immediately was intrigued by the challenge of making his own kaleidoscope.

"I said to Joann, ‘I can do this,’ " he says.

He found instructions for constructing a kaleidoscope on the Internet and started fiddling. After considerable trial and error, he says, he completed a working model that he incorporated into a large, carved hardwood sculpture.

When he tried to sell his artistic creation, however, kaleidoscope collectors – an arcane group scattered around the world – gave a collective thumbs down.

"The first one I built," says Haven, "was too big. The collectors – some of them have up to 400 scopes – said they just didn’t have room for it."

Since that early prototype, Haven has built about 15 kaleidoscopes, continually perfecting his methods and quality. All are scaled-down versions of that first "table model," housed in graceful cherry wood sculptures. And he’s even sold several, at more than $1,000 apiece, through Missoula art galleries, on eBay, and through his own Web site at http://www.alfascopes.com.

"One’s in Japan," he says. "One’s in England. I’ve sold enough to keep me functional and buying tools and more materials."

Haven’s also attended two annual conventions of the Brewster Society, an international organization of more than 1,000 kaleidoscope aficionados and makers, at San Diego and New Orleans. While at the gatherings, he made contacts with collectors, displayed his scopes and took advanced classes in making them.

Since he retired from his career as a physical therapist last January, Haven has had more time for his artistic pursuits.

In the past, he has directed his talents to a variety of projects: crafting celtic harps and handmade wooden drums, an assortment of wood-carving endeavors, even making glass jewelry and ornaments. The Bitterroot Valley home he built 12 years ago exhibits his unique handiwork in every corner.

"I’ve done woodworking since my grandfather showed me how, many moons ago," says Haven.

Now, he says, he wants to devote his skills to making kaleidoscopes.

"I like this, now that I’ve got the bugs worked out," he says. "They’re fun to make and fun for people to look at. Most people get a kick out of this, but lots of people don’t know about kaleidoscopes. They think of that $10 toy they got as a kid. They don’t think of it as an art piece."

"I’m making these as a hobby," Haven says. "And the challenge to get it right." Materials and tools cost money, "so I have to sell them. But not as a way to put my kids through college."

At the Brewster Society conventions, Haven has seen the work of many other kaleidoscope makers, most of whom produce commercial models in a myriad of shapes and sizes.

But, he says, he hasn’t seen any kaleidoscopes comparable to his.

The most unusual aspect of his scopes is that you look into them with both eyes instead of just one. The effect is a stunning three-dimensional image, rather than the flat perspective of most kaleidoscopes. The relatively large size of Haven’s scopes is necessary, he says, to allow viewing with both eyes.

He is now making just one model with an overall length of 21 inches. Focal length is 16 inches, which he says is just right if the viewer wants to wear reading glasses. Viewing height is adjustable. The curvaceous cherry wood sculpture, with a lustrous, hand-rubbed oil finish that you can’t resist stroking, is 9 inches wide, 16 inches high and weighs 15 pounds.

"There’s quite a bit of engineering," says Haven, "to get the right eye height, and balanced so it doesn’t tip over. The mirror angles are tough. At first I tried to calculate it mathematically. But later I just experimented with the mirrors until it came into focus."

Different kaleidoscope designs use different numbers of mirrors. Haven uses two mirrors. Depending on the angle of the mirrors, a scope will produce a mandala, or circular geometric pattern, with a central star having from three to 22 points.

Haven settled on an angle that produces a five-pointed star pattern.

Ultimately, he says, "it’s a matter of what you like. What a collector looks for is the points on the mirrors. It should come down to a sharp point at the center."

Haven cuts his to tolerances finer than 3,000th of an inch, so that a precise fit forms the sharp point of the star. Mirrors used in high-quality kaleidoscopes are "front-coated," much more expensive than standard "back-coated" mirrors, and reflect a more precise image, according to Haven.

As attractive as the outside of Haven’s scopes are, it’s what you see inside that’s magical. The reason is the fascinating mix of objects he puts in the object lens that provide the colors and shapes the kaleidoscope transforms into geometric patterns.

Haven makes his lenses of acrylic plastic, seven inches in diameter and an inch thick. He surrounds the lens with a band of different-colored stained glass. The interchangeable lenses are designed to be lit from the side (he includes a halogen lamp with each scope) with a choice of white, black or gold backgrounds.

The lenses are filled with liquid silicone. Drifting lazily through that clear, heavy bath are from 40 to 50 objects that may include seashells, abalone, mother of pearl, bone, dichroic glass (which transmits lights of different colors when looked at from different angles), lace metal, Italian glass, porcelain, fiber optic ovals and other eclectic odds and ends that grab Haven’s fancy.

Haven is always experimenting with the objects he places in the lens of his kaleidoscopes. He’s tried different colored feathers, ferns and flower petals, which are laminated in clear plastic before being floated in the silicone.

He also melts glass rods in an oven to blend colors to try in his scopes. The visual effect is more organic than the crystalline geometric patterns commonly associated with kaleidoscopes. Haven’s liquid-filled lenses produce fluid, constantly changing, three-dimensional images that seem almost alive.

"Some scopes move too fast," says Haven. "I like the slow, ethereal change of patterns."

Some of the marvelous shapes that materialize in his kaleidoscopes are only found in nature, he says, such as the double helix of the DNA molecule, and the Fibonacci spiral that is exhibited in galaxies, the nautilus shell and the pine cone.

The patterns evolve slowly, or mutate radically, depending on how fast the viewer turns the lens. Turn the wheel in the opposite direction, and an entirely different effect is created. Turn slowly or quickly, clockwise or counterclockwise, the experience is always hypnotic.

One of Haven’s kaleidoscopes was purchased by a doctor in Japan, who told him he planned to use it to help his convalescent patients relax as part of the healing process.

Haven enjoys watching people’s reaction when they gaze into his scopes.

"There are fast turners and there are slow turners," he says. "I love showing these to people because they usually have fun with it."

The only problem, he says, is that only one person at a time can use his kaleidoscopes. That can lead to conflicts.

"It’s like, people say, ‘OK, now you look. Just don’t change it,’ " says Haven, laughing.

"I’d love to make one that two people could look through at the same time."

You can almost see the wheels turning in his head.

Reporter Daryl Gadbow can be reached at 523-5264 or at [email protected].

If you’re interested

John Haven makes one or two kaleidoscopes a month in his home workshop in Florence. Each one is individually numbered. The price, complete with custom wooden carrying case, an external light source, and one interchangeable object lens with choice of black, gold or white backgrounds, is $1,225 plus shipping, which includes double boxing and insurance.

For more information, call Haven at (406) 273-0550, or visit his Web site at http://www.alfascopes.com.

For more kaleidoscope fun, check out the Brewster Society Web site at http://www.brewstersociety.com.