By Holly Peterson
A bowling ball and a roller coaster might seem like an impossible combination for a piece of art.
But not for Darrell Tousley.
Tousley, 31, a senior from Las Vegas, majoring in sculpture, recently presented his senior project, 'An Eccentric Sculpture,' more affectionately referred to as 'Bowler Coaster.'
The art project, which took about six months from start to finish, involves a bowling ball moving along a roller coaster in an art gallery.
Tousley said he hopes the audience will look at everyday objects differently after experiencing his project.
Bowler Coaster is a proxy experience that takes an everyday item out of context from the typical setting so that people can experience the movement separate from the object, Tousley said.
'Looking at the motion as the subject of the piece is what elevates this project above a feat of engineering,' said Brian Christensen, associate professor of sculpture in the visual arts department.
The project is in the Harris Fine Arts Center for now, but assembling the project did not go flawlessly, Tousley said.
A few days before the sculpture was scheduled to be presented, a snowstorm rusted and tarnished the project. The sculpture had to be sanded and repainted so that it would work, Tousley said.
Without the support of family and friends Tousley said he could not have accomplished what he did.
'It was amazing to see the amount of help that people willingly gave to help me. Friends and family came and gave entire days,' he said.
Matt Deford, 26, a senior from Houston, Texas, also majoring in sculpture, is Tousley''s best friend.
Deford said Tousley is the type of guy that people want to help.
'When things seem impossible and hard, Darrell is just so determined. People really admire that about him,' he said.
'Even the idea when he began seemed so big and intense - a 50-foot long sculpture, two 20-foot towers and two six-foot loops is just huge. He has big ideas, but he makes them work,' Deford said.
For someone who can make the impossible possible, his advice is simple: Take an idea and realize that it will work, he said.
'There is this crazy little quote by Goethe that has really helped me with everything,' Tousley said. '...Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic to it. Begin it now.'