Artists assemble for show, sale on West Side

YOUNGSTOWN — A visit to Tony Armeni’s studio might tempt you to put a new spin on explaining the practical uses of a bowling ball.

That’s because he uses such a ball not to get strikes or convert spares but as the main attraction for one of his pieces of steel sculpture.

“When I stop powering the motor, the ball loses its center of balance, and that causes its orbit on the edge of the tank head,” which resembles a large steel bowl, explained Armeni, of Youngstown, referring to a remote-controlled sculpture piece he designed that relies on a variable-speed motor and rubber-friction wheel at the bottom of the bowl-shaped device.

The remote control causes the small wheel to accelerate, which, along with centrifugal force, sends the ball on elliptical and other orbits inside the bowl; a steel guard prevents it from becoming airborne.

Armeni was one of an estimated 35 local artists who took part today in the seventh annual Artists of the Mahoning Commons Holiday Open Studio and Art Sale at the Ward Bakery building, 1024 Mahoning Ave., on the city’s West Side. The free show continues from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the building.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com