Page 118 - David Bermant Foundation

elecTrIc BAll cIrcuSA smile is the most prevalent facial expression among viewers of George Rhoads’ sculptures. ”Electric Ball Circus” is just that—a CIRCUS of sights and sounds, of colors and movements, of actions and reactions— the most colossal, exciting, funny art sculpture in the whole wide world!!! And you can participate . . . Ring a bell . . . Blow a whistle . . . Sound the thunder gong!A painter and sculptor, George Rhoads started at a tender age being a clock-parts freak, and just went on from there—entranced with timing mechanisms that activated motor elements, making things make noise, and bending gravity to his sense of humor. Perhaps the comic drawings of Rube Goldberg form some of the inspiration of Rhoads’ audio-kinetic inventions, and the interaction of machine and visitor is one of his primary goals. “People generally have a cheerful response,” he says, “and children stand for hours looking at the sculptures.”George Rhoads’ love of machines is very apparent in his sculptures. He feels machines have been mistreated by society, which may be part of the reason he pays them homage in his works. “Electric Ball Circus” took Rhoads nine months to construct, and he was assisted by Jerry Wolff of Slaterville Springs, New York.“My sculpture at Long Ridge Mall was not popular with some people. When I was there installingit I encountered this kind of thing. People were shocked. I think it was simply the concept, the newness of it. I think most of the people who came to the mall hadn’t even encountered modern art.”—George Rhoads117