This tabletop rolling ball sculpture is completely human powered—no motor, electricity or lift required. The 1-inch glass marbles are collected at the bottom and placed by hand into the queue at the top, where they wait to be released.

A lever at the bottom controls the starting gate. Press it to release one, two, or all of the waiting marbles onto four different tracks. From there, gravity does all the work as the marbles travel through the sculpture’s curves, drops and kinetic elements before reaching the collection area at the bottom.

Unlike my motorized rolling ball sculptures, where a chain or helical lift continuously returns the marbles to the top, this design makes the viewer part of the action. Pick up the marbles, load the queue, choose how many to release and send them through again. It is a simple, hands-on version of a rolling ball sculpture and is especially fun when people can interact with it directly.

Made from 100% stainless steel and TIG welded.