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S.U. 3rd Year Grad Student's Bowling Ball Sculpture Greets USBC Event Bowlers at OnCenter

John Smith/WAER News

A third year grad student who is pursuing his Masters of Fine Arts Degree in painting at Syracuse University has found his work on full display at the U.S. Bowling Congress event in Syracuse.  Even before players and people go inside to the lanes, they’ll likely stop in the foyer entrance to see a display of suspended bowling balls from the ceiling.  They’re colorful and arranged by Mark Zbikowski, Jr. who is also a practicing professional artist.  He calls the sculpture, “It’s In Our Blood 2.0.”

“And coming from a bowling background, my family, and growing up in that culture I’ve come to believe that bowling is something that’s just in our blood.  It’s something we’re born into, generation to generation.”

He estimates the sculpture has about 72 bowling balls.  As you can imagine, there’s a lot of time that went into the first and second versions.

“The time that I put in thinking about constructing in my head.  Thinking about the geometry, the architectural standpoint that I would have to do to build it… engineering.  It took a long time to figure it out.  Probably 3 or 4 months and then a good two months to build it after I had done so.”

From there it took about a month to map out the second design and to construct the second sculpture.

“Obviously looking at the balls that I placed on top and then looking at what I had to work with and seeing which ones my personality picks.  Like what do I feel should be next.  Color wise, labelling… whatever it may be.  Just kind of how I go through it.  Nothing too meticulous but, definitely color coordination.”

Zbikowski, Jr. who goes by Mark Zibbs constructed the bowling ball sculpture from bottom to top using interchangeable cables to keep them in place and level into what he calls a “D.N.A strand.”  It’s purely a metaphor.  If you need more proof, as he and his brother were growing up, their Dad brought them to the bowling alley which he explains was an extension of their own family through the many bowlers they established friendships with.  Having the sculpture on display for the U.S. Bowling Congress Members come to town is very meaningful and is something Zibbs feels they’ll certainly relate to.

“It’s pretty incredible just to be a part of it.  I’m appreciative that they were willing to help out and fund me to build this so I can share my vision with all of the bowlers across the nation.”

You can see the bowling ball sculpture at the OnCenter during the 2018 Open Championships.  To check out Mark’s project portfolio click here.  For a look back down memory lane at U.S.B.C. events in Syracuse throughout the years click here.

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.