Desktop Kinetic Stainless Steel Rolling Ball Sculpture
This project is a free standing kinetic sculpture made of welded stainless steel. The track is 1/8" rod and the frame is 1/4" rod. A small section of perforated stainless steel is used as a catch mechanism near the track switch. All track was formed by hand. Glass marbles of 1" in diameter are placed at the topmost track. A hand-operated gate is used to release the marbles which then pass to a switch that separates them equally onto one of two tracks. The two tracks take the marbles on various paths during which they negotiate turns, a loop, a spiral, and various curves before coming to rest at the bottom of the sculpture on a single track once again. This sculpture is suitable for home or office use. No special mounting or installation is required. It may be moved to different locations as desired.
Material
- glass
- marble
- steel
Size
- small
Base
- metal
Function
- office
Meet the Maker
Tom Harold
Tom Harold
I am a kinetic sculptor working in the unique branch of art called rolling ball sculpture. Using mainly plain steel and/or stainless steel, I create works of art that are both fascinating to behold and fun to watch in operation. Rolling media moves along tracks that I design and create, during its travel the media interacts with various objects such as loops, curves, switches, chimes, tubes, stair steps, funnels, spirals, tipping arms - you name it, I can likely incorporate it into a sculpture! They make great additions to home or office and can function as wonderful conversation starters or excellent diversions in situations where people need something to take their minds off events at hand. My aim is to provide both fun and fascination in my art and thereby make the world a little better place.