I remember the magic of looking through a kaleidoscope as a little girl. Brilliant, vibrant colors coming together to make symmetrical shapes that seemed as precise as they were chaotic. Each look through the lens offered something new and spectacular, different than the intricate images seen before. With a little shake and turning of a tube and the sound of colored beads, pebbles, or small pieces of glass swirling together, mirrors connect with the light in just a way to produce the beauty that we see. Who would have thought that such a small disruption leading to the destruction of a pattern could make room for the same materials to come together again to form something fantastic, though different? Each turn or shake of a kaleidoscope could represent life changes or new perspectives that require some level of deconstruction before evolving into magnificence. Or you can simply be a kid who likes pretty pictures and wild shapes, experiencing joy and the spirit of adventure with each look. Whatever your experience, interpretation, or developmental stage, kaleidoscopes allow us to appreciate wonder, creativity, and the power of play, all rolled into one mercurial lens.
Published by Elsevier Inc.