About Ian………

Model railways are amazing, but they tend to follow typical passenger safety rules to employ a certain amount realism.  Whilst in the middle of making my first railway, I got frustrated with the regular design constraints and began to fantasise about runaway trucks escaping the quarry lines and loop-da-looping their way back to the shunting yards.  This quite quickly led me to discover the amazing online community of Rolling Ball Sculptures.  My RBS journey began in 2017 with many failed attempts in materials and scale.  When I finally settled on copper wire, I managed to get successful with ½ inch stainless steel balls.

These days I’m building desk top sculptures for sale mostly using 2mm copper wire, 5/8 inch stainless steel balls and low voltage electric motors to lift the balls to the top.  I mostly use a resistance solder iron to make my sculptures.  Each sculpture I make is designed to be different from the last and I’m definitely still developing my own skills and design style.  I video myself designing and building my RBS and regularly post vlog style videos on my Copper-Gravity YouTube channel.  Please subscribe to my channel if you want to follow along.

From Matthew’s website:

I have always loved anything that moves on it own. I grew up next to a creek and spent most of my early years walking up and down Kelsey Creek with my faithful dog, Hershey. I was always fascinated with how the water would never cease flowing downstream, transforming the creek as it did so, moving big and little rocks alike. I would dam up the stream with rocks and sand to see it overflow and watch the water flow in new directions. All that was needed was water and gravity.

So when my brother Larry, gave me a “Spacewarp” (Black Wolf) he found at the thrift store I was amazed with the concept. The Spacewarp is an older, plastic, manufactured Rolling Ball Sculpture toy; It had a coil of track, snap on spacers, an automatic spiral lift and several cool elements. It was easily the coolest toy I had every owned after my ball clock.

Years later, I looked online to see if I could find parts for the ol’ Spacewarp and restore it to it’s former glory. Instead, what I found was a few other examples of RBS’s made from steel. This was my “Aha!” moment where I realized I could make my own structures with metal. I started making ball tracks with soldered brass rod but the solder joints were very weak so I decided to changed over to TIG welding stainless steel for it’s durability and corrosion resistance.

Welding gave me the ability to join steel together with a strong, permanent connection. Once I started welding with stainless steel rod I never looked back. It’s a wonderful experience to picture something in my mind, then shape the metal, weld it and see it become reality.

After creating over 300 rolling ball sculpture’s I now have 15 years of experience under my belt. Years of imagining, designing and building fun and intricate moving kinetic RBS’s. It has been an exciting journey to start as one of the pioneering RBS creators when there was very, very little information, or videos, about RBS on the young internet back in 2003. From a humble start, to now having shipped my art into many countries worldwide. I have had my tracks and elements displayed in TV shows, been used in multi-million dollar builds, and have added my ball tracks skills to many on-location projects, such as Escape Rooms and Rube Goldberg machines.

I love that I get to create something like an RBS from basic raw materials that can entertain and amaze people of all ages. I feel like I am at my best when fulfilling your dream of owning a custom, unique, handmade Rolling Ball Sculpture. So, if you’re interested in having me build you your very own kinetic art sculpture, then send me an email. Let’s discuss your vision, so I can make your dream a reality.

My wife, Jacqui, and I live close to the shores of Clear Lake in N. California.

The inspiration for Gualala Gadget came when our master gadget-maker, Jim Blomgren, was exploring the complexities of 3D printing. Jim noticed that most of the things that are 3D-printed these days, while fascinating and very creative, are static objects with no movement at all, like action figures. So Jim decided to create a 3D-printed object that incorporated movement and started devising his first marble machine.

After many months of trial and error, tweaking and changing, he had his first Gualala Gadget working perfectly. Jim has found the process of gadget-designing so enjoyable, he can’t seem to stop himself from creating new gadgets. And in the process, Jim has managed to push the limits of 3D printing.

As founder of The MAD Museum, Richard has donated pieces of kinetic art to display which he has collected over the years. Not only that but he also has created his own contribution out in the garden, the Water Feature and intends to build more exhibits himself.

Richard has always been fascinated with mechanics, design and art and how each very different aspect blends together to create a visually impressive display.

Originally a trained chartered surveyor, turned property developer, he then moved towards the internet and set up information related websites for the construction, renewable energy and luxury markets.

For a long time he has been searching for the right location to bring The MAD Museum to fruition and its launch has only encouraged him to find more works of art for the world to see.

What I enjoy most about kinetic/rolling ball sculptures is their ability to captivate an audience of all ages on many levels. This for me, makes them hugely rewarding to make. You could describe them as a marriage of artistic ideas with engineering, presented as tangible moving objects.

The processes which I liken to “drawing with wire” evolve from a rough set of plans into a finished working piece made from stainless steel, which is tig welded and won’t deteriorate over time. The motors that drive the lift system are designed to be easily replaced if necessary at a very low cost. A 12v charger for the motor draws only half an amp, and led spotlights where used means it won’t use much electricity to run. Timed operating is also possible throughout the day if required and ideas for wind, solar and water powered versions are on the drawing board.

Didier Legros is a renowned French kinetic artist. Based in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Didier creates unique pieces or original editions, comprising of 3, 5 or 8 pieces, all numbered and signed. “I will be quite happy if my creations contribute in a small way to making urgent matters seem less urgent and to developing imagination as a vital element in our lives. The small joys and little nothings that shape our daily lives.” Didier Legros.

I am Jelle Bakker and I live in Amersfoort (the Netherlands). I was born in Wervershoof (near Hoorn, the Netherlands) in 1983 and my biggest hobby is constructing marble machines. Since 2001 I began constructing more complex room sized marble machines with elevators and multiple paths. My biggest milestone was setting the guiness record longest marble run in the world on 21st May 2009. This marble run was 210.31 meters long. Unfortunately, it’s already broken by someone else in September 2011.

The Marble Machine “Marble MADhouse” is my first international project outside of the Netherlands and Belgium. This marble Machine has 3 marble lifters and lots of paths with bells, chimes and woodblocks. Now i hoping of a international project outside of Europe.

My biggest dream is having a big hall with a giant marble run with thousands of track meters with light shows and multiple paths and lifters.

I’m a German artist working and living in Dorsten, Germany and have been working in copper wire for almost 30 years. Initially I built static objects but for some years now I’ve been fascinated by kinematics and now mainly build Kugelbahnen (Rolling Ball Sculptures).

It is important for me to ensure the overall aesthetic impression combined with the intricate mechanics to ensure each sculpture has its own specific peculiarities. In some I use a rotating stone, in others rolling balls release in sequence and again, in others switch points change the paths of the balls. I draw in the observer eliciting their curiosity, to try to find out which path the ball will take. Even now I get drawn into the sculpture following a rolling ball down its path. I want my sculptures to excite the observer so they will want to use and touch the sculptures and I enjoy playing with them myself.

In general my sculptures are products of my fantasy and are created without any plans. I have a basic idea and only during construction details are finalised eventually turning the sculpture into a piece of art. Building Kugelbahnen is like an addiction; since building my first one I am constantly thinking about Kugelbahnen and every time I am build a new one at least three new ideas are conceived.

David Williams has pursued his life-long interest of Kinetic Art for many years and has created many amazing contraptions using precise and intricate workings and mechanics. A lecturer in 3D design for many years and more recently in props and special effects he uses his appreciation of both art and science and the relationship between organic and inorganic materials to produce stunning exhibits.

His work usually involves copper, brass, leather and organic compounds with geometric accuracy and an engineered flair which exudes his mastery in each component of construction and placement.

In his own words David says, “Each statement involves a system only pertinent and definitive to itself. It will always be an intuitive adventure”.