Archimedes Screw – Outdoor Interactive Teleidoscope Sculpture

North Iowa Farm Machinery Transformed Into Interactive Public Art

Public art you don't just look at—you become part of it.

The “Archimedes Screw” Outdoor Interactive Teleidoscope Sculpture is a one-of-a-kind work of public art created by artist and kaleidoscope designer Karl Schilling of Kaleidoscopes To You.

This unusual outdoor sculpture combines North Iowa agricultural history, recycled farm machinery, sculpture, optics, and interactive art. At its heart are two teleidoscopes mounted at different heights, allowing both children and adults to experience the artwork.

Rather than looking at objects contained inside a traditional kaleidoscope, a teleidoscope uses mirrors and a spherical viewing lens to transform the world around you into constantly changing patterns of color, shape, and symmetry.

Point the teleidoscope toward something ordinary—and suddenly it becomes extraordinary.

From a Worth County Farm to a Work of Art

One of the most distinctive elements of Archimedes Screw is its sculptural base.

Karl repurposed unloading auger flighting from a very old John Deere combine, salvaged from a Worth County, Iowa farm.

The heavy agricultural machinery was once part of the equipment used to harvest crops. Today, that same piece of farm history has been given an entirely new purpose as the structural support for two interactive teleidoscopes.

The result is a wonderful example of farm machinery transformed into fine art.

The old auger flighting gives the sculpture a visual connection to the machinery, ingenuity, and agricultural heritage of North Iowa while supporting an entirely different kind of discovery.

Two Teleidoscopes – Two Heights

Archimedes Screw features two different teleidoscopes mounted at two different heights.

One is positioned for adults, while the second is designed specifically for children.

This was an intentional part of Karl's design. Public art should be accessible to everyone, and children shouldn't have to stand on tiptoes or rely on an adult to experience the artwork.

Visitors can choose a teleidoscope, point it toward the surrounding landscape, and discover an ever-changing kaleidoscopic interpretation of whatever happens to be in view.

Trees, clouds, buildings, sculptures, people, artwork, and the surrounding landscape can all become part of the optical experience.

Looking at a Mural Through a Teleidoscope

Archimedes Screw currently has a particularly meaningful purpose at Art Farm Iowa in Northwood, Iowa, where the sculpture is positioned to look toward the outdoor mural “Cosmic Dragon” by Chris Mendoza.

Karl created this installation in response to his friend Chris Mendoza, who loved kaleidoscopes and wanted Karl to place an outdoor teleidoscope near his mural.

The teleidoscopes now offer visitors an entirely different way to experience Chris's artwork.

Instead of simply viewing the mural as a large-scale painting, visitors can look through the teleidoscope and see portions of the mural transformed into repeating patterns, colors, shapes, and reflections.

It creates an artistic conversation between mural, sculpture, optics, and landscape.

What Is a Teleidoscope?

A traditional kaleidoscope contains colorful objects or materials that are reflected by a mirror system to create symmetrical patterns.

A teleidoscope takes a different approach.

Instead of an object chamber filled with colorful pieces, a teleidoscope has a spherical viewing lens at the end. Whatever you point it toward becomes the source material for the kaleidoscopic image.

That means the world itself becomes the kaleidoscope.

With Archimedes Screw, visitors can point the teleidoscopes toward the Cosmic Dragon mural, trees, sky, buildings, people, or anything else within view.

Every direction creates something different.

A Connection to Art Farm Iowa

Karl frequently visits Art Farm Iowa in Northwood, located just approximately 15 miles north of his studio and gallery, Kaleidoscopes To You, in Manly, Iowa.

The close connection between Karl's studio and Art Farm Iowa makes this installation particularly meaningful.

It brings together two nearby North Iowa creative spaces while showcasing how agricultural history, contemporary art, and optical art can work together.

Key Features

• One-of-a-Kind Outdoor Public Art: Original sculpture created by Karl Schilling.
• Recycled North Iowa Farm Machinery: Incorporates unloading auger flighting from a very old John Deere combine.
• Worth County Farm Connection: The agricultural material was harvested from a Worth County, Iowa farm.
• Two Interactive Teleidoscopes: Visitors can look through two different optical systems.
• Two Viewing Heights: One teleidoscope is designed for adults and one for children.
• Interactive Experience: Visitors point the teleidoscopes toward objects and scenery around them.
• No Traditional Object Chamber: The surrounding world becomes the source of the kaleidoscopic patterns.
• Currently Installed at Art Farm Iowa: Located in Northwood, Iowa.
• Designed to View Cosmic Dragon: The teleidoscopes provide a unique optical interpretation of Chris Mendoza's outdoor mural.
• Farm History Meets Fine Art: Historic agricultural machinery becomes part of a contemporary interactive sculpture.
• Handmade by Karl Schilling: Created by an artist with 44 years of experience designing and building kaleidoscopes.

About the Artist

Karl Schilling has been designing and building kaleidoscopes for 44 years, combining fine art, glass, sculpture, optics, mechanical design, and a fascination with reflected light.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and decades of experience creating kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes, Karl continues to explore new ways to bring optical art into public spaces.

Archimedes Screw is part of his growing series of one-of-a-kind outdoor interactive kaleidoscope and teleidoscope sculptures.

Why You Will Love It

Archimedes Screw is more than an outdoor kaleidoscope.

It is a piece of North Iowa history transformed into interactive art.

An old piece of John Deere farm machinery that once helped harvest crops now supports an optical experience that allows visitors to explore a mural, the landscape, and the world around them in an entirely new way.

And because there are two viewing heights, the experience belongs to both children and adults.

Look through the lens.

Turn your attention toward something familiar.

Then watch it become something you've never seen before.

Public art you don't just look at—you become part of it.

Visit Archimedes Screw

Archimedes Screw is currently on display at Art Farm Iowa in Northwood, Iowa, where visitors can experience the two interactive teleidoscopes and discover their own constantly changing optical views of the Cosmic Dragon mural and surrounding landscape.

Created from North Iowa farm history, recycled machinery, and the art of the kaleidoscope, Archimedes Screw is a reminder that beautiful new things can emerge when we give old things a new purpose.

One of a kind. Made to be experienced.