Since 1986, I have explored the idea of using a computer as part of a kaleidoscope. As a child, I loved the patterns and symmetry of kaleidoscopes, and I was convinced to buy my Apple II computer when I saw software creating kaleidoscopic patterns.
I showed one of my first kaleidoscopes at SIGGRAPH 1988. My kaleidoscopes were part of Peter Gabrial's WOMAD Tour, World Of Music and Dance, and Lollapalooza.
In 2009, as part of the Magic Lightbox exhibit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, I created "Khuritos Infinitos" (Infinite Khuritos). The kaleidoscope was handcrafted from an alloy of silver and tin with embossed weaving designs. At the end of the kaleidoscope, a computer monitor generates patterns. Combining new technology with traditional objects is a consistent metaphor for my work.
Khuritos Infinito's was a favorite at the exhibition, and some viewers made it their own.
My Bolivian roots inspire a large body of my work, but this was the first time I had an extensive show in Bolivia. The response was moving.
I spoke directly to the Bolivian people in the symbolic visual language of their weavings. A man told me that he was moved that my artwork honored what the Bolivian people often failed to appreciate. This response fulfilled my hopes of honoring their culture and sharing my work with the country that had inspired it.
