pointing machines - Barry X Ball portrait sculptures

["Barry X Ball" <bxball@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Folks -

I just stumbled across an intriguing dialogue string (late December, 2004)
about my work, CNC machines, etc. and thought that I would add a couple
points to the conversation.

I am a founding member of the Digital Stone Project, the successor to the
former Johnson Atelier Stone Division.  The Digital Stone Project facility
has the most comprehensive collection of CNC stone-carving machines in the
world.  (See the DSP's minimal website at
http://www.digitalstoneproject.org/ )  Although the Digital Stone Project's
machines have been utilized for several large architectural projects, the
primary purpose of the DSP is to work with artists to advance the creation
of stone sculpture.  The DSP encourages artist interaction with its CNC
machines and welcomes artists of all types to come and work with the skilled
technicians at its facility.  Far from being a "distancing" technology, CNC
equipment, as employed at the Digital Stone Project, is a fantastic addition
to artists' creative armamentariums.  Many artists who have worked at the
DSP have as intimate a relationship with those beautiful CNC machines as
they do with their chisels, mallets, and rifflers.

As for my own work.  I carve and polish - by hand - each of my pieces for
hundreds of hours after the CNC milling is complete.  There is also
extensive handwork in the creation of the models that are subsequently
scanned to produce my stone heads.  Therefore, perhaps, there is an undo
emphasis on the "digital" in some of the published literature on my work.
Although my aesthetic efforts have apparently not met with unqualified
appreciation by all observers, I am glad that my work has at least inspired
passionate commentary.

Sincerely - Barry X Ball

Barry X Ball Studio

97 Grand Street

Brooklyn, NY  11211

U.S.A.

tel: (718) 782-2319

fax: (718) 963-4506

e-mail:  <bxball@------------- > bxball@-------------