27. Peggy & Steve Kittelson

Peggy and Steve Kittelson have been creating fine handcrafted kaleidoscopes since 1986. They are known for their classic 2-mirror imagery, and the highest quality optical reflections defined by the incredible display of miniature glass sculptures found in the object chambers. The exterior of their scopes are of kiln formed glass, or lathe-turned hard-woods, combined with finely machined metal turning ends. Each kaleidoscope is a collaboration of both artists. Steve’s fusing skills result in clean, crisp definition of design often requiring multiple firing and annealing, and his optics using front-surface mirror create images of the highest standard. Peggy’s flame-sculpted glass pieces floating in the oil-filled object chambers are among the most beautiful to be viewed through a kaleidoscope.

Steve has studied with fusing masters Gil Reynolds, Boyce Lundstrum, and Richard Ritter. Peggy has studied with glass artists Paul Stankard and Kate Fowle Meleney. Together they have studied with Brian Kirkfliet, Dinah and Patti Hulet, and Fred Berkhill at the University of Michigan.

The Kittelsons work has been included in many exhibits: Strathmore Hall Art Center in Rockville, Maryland; the National Quilt Museum Kaleidoscope Exhibit in Paducah, Kentucky; Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona; American Folk Art Museum in New York, NY, & Akron Art Museum, Akron, Ohio as part of the Paula Nadelstern Kaleidoscope Exhibit; a permanent kaleidoscope exhibit at the Teruko Tsuji Memorial Art Museum in Sendei, Japan and at the kaleidoscope museum in Kyoto, Japan; many of their pieces are in the Cozy Baker Collection; and they exhibited at the Smithsonian Craft Show 2010. They have been recognized with numerous awards given at Brewster Kaleidoscope events, glass competitions, and in 2017, participated in the first international convention in Kyoto, Japan.

Peggy and Steve have been active educators by opening their studio and giving demonstrations on the magic and science of kaleidoscopes to students of all ages. Through their participation in the Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour they have been able to teach hundreds of people about their art. They also present programs & have taught classes on making scopes, but most of all they love sharing the beauty, wonder, & magic to be found in kaleidoscopes. They enjoy knowing that the viewer participates in the randomness of the art and that their work brings childlike wonder to people of all ages.