New view on kaleidoscopes for Whangarei

MAGIC: Andrew Leary peers into one of his extraordinary creations, the Artemis bubble scope.

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This country’s only full-time kaleidoscope makers are bringing their extravagant creations to Whangarei for the first time.

Kerikeri couple Andrew and Robyn Leary have been in the business for 27 years and sold more than 200,000 kaleidoscopes.

Mr Leary says they have had a wide range of people come through their permanent home gallery in Kerikeri.

"We get a lot of school groups and the kids just love it, but we also get collectors and backpackers and all sorts," he says. "People are enchanted by the calming, restful images."

Derived from the Greek words kalos, eidos and skopos – meaning beautiful, form and view – kaleidoscopes are tubes which contain mirrors and usually colourful beads. But the couple have been creative with their designs.

"We’ll be displaying one with bubbles, one which is activated by music, and one that is as long as three feet," says Mr Leary.

The Leary’s first got into kaleidoscope-making 27 years ago by chance.

Mrs Leary, an industrial chemist and leadlight artist at the time, asked her husband, a joiner, to make her a kaleidoscope. The end result led to commissions from friends followed by the establishment of their own business, Scopes New Zealand.

Their bubble scope has won them an international innovation award.

This country’s only full-time kaleidoscope makers are bringing their extravagant creations to Whangarei for the first time.

Kerikeri couple Andrew and Robyn Leary have been in the business for 27 years and sold more than 200,000 kaleidoscopes.

Mr Leary says they have had a wide range of people come through their permanent home gallery in Kerikeri.

"We get a lot of school groups and the kids just love it, but we also get collectors and backpackers and all sorts," he says. "People are enchanted by the calming, restful images."

Derived from the Greek words kalos, eidos and skopos – meaning beautiful, form and view – kaleidoscopes are tubes which contain mirrors and usually colourful beads. But the couple have been creative with their designs.

"We’ll be displaying one with bubbles, one which is activated by music, and one that is as long as three feet," says Mr Leary.

The Leary’s first got into kaleidoscope-making 27 years ago by chance.

Mrs Leary, an industrial chemist and leadlight artist at the time, asked her husband, a joiner, to make her a kaleidoscope. The end result led to commissions from friends followed by the establishment of their own business, Scopes New Zealand.

Their bubble scope has won them an international innovation award.

- © Fairfax NZ News