'Kaleidoscope (Blue)' named Best in Show at Lewiston Art Festival

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Orchard Park’s Jon Mowell was awarded Best in Show on Saturday at the Lewiston Art Festival.

His prize-winning piece, “Kaleidoscope (Blue),” is a one-of-a-kind, handmade collection of colors and patterns. It’s “super simple,” Mowell explained. “Nine pieces of glass, three shrouds it, three mirrors on the inside, and a viewing port glass that you can look through.”

“Kaleidoscope (Blue)” is also a piece of art “that nobody really gets a chance to see,” Mowell explained. “Nobody else is really making these. And I feel like it's a lost art, you know? So, I wanted to really study how to make kaleidoscopes, put my own spin on them, really, and bring it out to the public – because this is something that you might only be able to see online. So, I want to try to make them more available, put a good price on them, and we'll see how it goes – if people like kaleidoscopes or not (laughs).”

On this weekend, the answer was a resounding “Yes.”

“I wasn't expecting it,” Mowell said of his Best in Show award. “I was like, ‘Holy cow,’ because there's so many artists out here. And you know, the way you guys pick the artists to be here is part of the reason why I wanted to be here, too, because I know that we're all doing something from our heart. This isn't like a craft show. This is an art show.

“That's why I felt really good to get the win, because my competitors out here, my friends, my neighbors, are so amazing. I mean, left and right of me – and going down both ways – every tent is unique. Everything in the tent is beautiful, handmade with love, and that's what made me feel really good is, because out of everyone with their amazing art, I was chosen for my unique art.”

A look at some of the colors and designs inside Jon Mowell’s “Kaleidoscope (Blue).”

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Mowell’s tent was titled “Squash Berry.”

“I specialize in stained glass, but I really specialize in kaleidoscopes,” Mowell said. “You could say I dabble in stained glass.

“My kaleidoscopes are very unique, hand-crafted. No computers at all used in the process; no kits. Everything comes from my mind. It's a great product. It's something that you'll be able to have for a very long time, share with your family. It's always a good piece for talking about.

“The stained glass is also great for your windows.

“I got into making stained glass just off of like a whim. I wanted to try something new. I started doing them. I realized, ‘I'm really good at this. I should really push on and really progress on this.’ So, it's been about 13 years now, and I've gotten this far.”

This was Mowell’s first time participating in the Lewiston Art Festival. He said the event’s reputation was what persuaded him to bring his work for exhibition.

“I know that it's a good show,” Mowell said. “I've heard from other artists that you guys definitely are going around, you help out, you guys provide a good atmosphere. It just sounded like something I wanted to be a part of, really – just from hearing that from other artists that come to the show; and I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to be a part of it – and I love it. In fact, I'll be here again.”

Mowell’s work is online at www.facebook.com/IamSquashBerry – but, he noted, “It's hard to find me, actually. I'm not an online salesman. In fact, I want to see your face when I make a sale.

“I want to do a grassroots start here in the Buffalo area; maybe online sales later on; maybe I can get an employee or someone to help me. But for right now, It means a lot to me to come out to the shows and see the people that I'm selling my art to; and I get to tell them about the piece that they're getting.”

Click HERE to find the full list of Lewiston Art Festival winners.