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A rolling ball sculpture (sometimes referred to as a marble run, ball run, gravitram, ''kugelbahn'' (German: 'ball track'), or rolling ball machine) is a form of
The tallest rolling ball sculpture in the world, at tall, is named the ''Energy Machine'', and located in the
David Morrell (sculptor)
Matthew Gaulden
Modern art Types of sculpture Kinetic art
A rolling ball sculpture (sometimes referred to as a marble run, ball run, gravitram, ''kugelbahn'' (German: 'ball track'), or rolling ball machine) is a form of kinetic art
Kinetic art is art from any medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or that depends on motion for its effects. Canvas paintings that extend the viewer's perspective of the artwork and incorporate multidimensional movement are ...
– an art form that contains moving pieces – that specifically involves one or more rolling balls.
A version where marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...
s compete in a race to win is called a marble race.
Toys
People make toys out of rolling ball sculptures.World records
The tallest rolling ball sculpture in the world, at tall, is named the ''Energy Machine'', and located in the Hong Kong Science Museum
The Hong Kong Science Museum is a public science museum in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong, located next to the Hong Kong Museum of History.
History
The Hong Kong Science Museum was first conceived by the Urban Council in 1976. The co ...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
.
According to Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
, the longest marble run is 2,858.9 meters long and was completed in Switzerland in September 2017.
See also
*George Rhoads
George Rhoads (January 27, 1926 – July 9, 2021) was a contemporary American painting, painter, sculpture, sculptor and origami master. He was best known for his whimsical Rolling ball sculpture, audiokinetic sculptures in airports, science muse ...
*Rube Goldberg machine
A Rube Goldberg machine, named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction–type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in a comically overcomplicated way. Usually, these machines consist of a s ...
*Bruce Gray (sculptor)
Bruce Gray (born November 14, 1956 Orange, New Jersey, died June 8, 2019 Los Angeles, California) was an artist residing in Los Angeles. His work includes kinetic art such as rolling ball machines, mobiles, stabiles, and suspended magnetic sc ...
*Perplexus
Perplexus, originally released as Superplexus, is a 3-D ball-in-a-maze puzzle or labyrinth game enclosed in a transparent plastic sphere. By twisting and turning it, players try to maneuver a small steel ball through a complex maze along narrow ...
*Rolling ball clock
A rolling ball clock is a clock which displays time by means of balls and rails.
History
The rolling ball clock was invented by Harley Mayenschein in the 1970s. He patented the design and founded Idle Tyme Corporation in 1978, which manufactured ...
*Jelle's Marble Runs
Jelle's Marble Runs is a YouTube channel based in the Netherlands centered on marble (toy), marbles, marble runs and marble races. It is run by the brothers Jelle and Dion Bakker. The channel spoofs the Olympic Games, Formula One, and other sport ...
References
{{reflistExternal links
David Morrell (sculptor)
Matthew Gaulden
Modern art Types of sculpture Kinetic art