Drop-in Distraction, Ball-Nogues Studio, 2009
Photo credit - Joshua White

Benjamin Ball & Gaston Nogues
Ball-Nogues Studio- Los Angeles, CA
02/04/10

Artists and architects Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues of Ball-Nogues Studio created a suspended sculpture, Drop-in Distraction, for the Southwest Building and Safety Permit Office lobby where engineers, architects and contractors, among others, apply for construction permits.  Drop-in Distraction expresses the artists’ desire to blur art and architecture. Composed of over one thousand individual nickel and brass plated bead chains hanging from custom-made aluminum ceiling panels, the work exemplifies the artists’ experimental and inventive approach to sculpture. While light-weight and diaphanous, the sculpture has a voluminous and undulating presence intended to intrigue the waiting clientele. Ball and Nogues developed custom software to determine the form of the sculpture, manage the chains, and expedite the cutting of the bead chains. This software-generated design made for a simple fabrication process and an efficient installation.

About the Artist:

Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues of LA-based Ball-Nogues Studio, began their practice together after having met as Sci-Arc undergraduates. Prior to partnering in business, Benjamin Ball worked for several Los Angeles architecture firms including Gehry & Associates and Ramer Architecture, and Gaston Nogues worked as a product designer for Gehry Partners. As a Studio, Ball and Nogues have completed designs and installations for the New York Museum of Modern Art / P.S. 1, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and Materials & Applications. In the fall of 2008, they were invited to install their artwork, Echoes Converge, at the 2008 Architecture Biennial in Venice, Italy.

Event Info:

what: Studio tour, reception with light lunch, and conversation
when: Tuesday,  February 2, 2010 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
where: Ball-Nogues Studio 410 South Spring Street Los Angeles, CA, 90013
plus: If you haven’t already, meet the new Los Angeles County Director of Civic Art, Greg Esser!

Please RSVP to civicart@arts.lacounty.gov by January 27th.
This invite is just for you and is non-transferable.

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http://www.lacountyarts.org/