Okay…of the many play things that wash up at the Falls of the Ohio, toy balls are the most numerous. Had I been photographing all I’ve come across over the six years I have been working this project, it would extend to hundreds of balls and images. It’s a little easier to understand why balls as compared to dolls ( and I’ve found a lot of those too and is a potential subject of another page here). Simply put, most balls roll and float and are susceptible to getting thrown, kicked, hit, and washed into the river. I have collected a few bags worth of balls (especially the yellow cores of softballs) and someday I hope to do something with these. For now, here is another portfolio of images. Each ball is photographed in situ.
In the old days, softballs and baseballs had a core of tightly woven string surrounding a smaller, rubber ball at its heart. Two pieces of sewn together leather would form the cover. Today, most softballs have this dense, foam-like material at their cores. Here is a picture of a contemporary softball losing its sewn and glued leather covering. I have found hundreds of these yellow cores and once planned to make a giant necklace from them.
Rubber, regulation-sized American football photographed among the driftwood. Following are a couple more novelty footballs.
I’m starting to find more soccer balls (or what most of the world calls footballs) and I wonder if this is a sign that the sport is growing here?
Sports come and go, but I think this part of the world will always be basketball country. I’ve seen so many of these balls in the river that even I have stopped paying attention to them.
A couple images of novelty basketballs delivered by the river.
And now, for some colorful playground balls many with familiar characters.
I end with this image of a large, playground-style ball on the sand. There are many other categories of balls not represented here ie…tennis balls, golf balls, etc…however, as I run across more interesting examples I will update this page and try to come up with my favorite dozen or so. Enjoy!
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
Alright Albertus. I want to come out one afternoon with you and photograph you at work if you would allow me. This is a great collection of collections. Something I am fond of, having collections of hair balls, photos of peoples feet and peoples refrigerator doors and other such things of my own.
I think I need a collection of collector photos and you would be one to start with.
Thanks for this great blog. I now have it linked to my blog which is less focused and, to be truthful, less interesting.
I’m at http://www.crow-black-crow.blogspot.com/
Talk soon.
Sorry for the late reply. Somehow this message wound up in my Spam filter…which I obviously don’t check enough! I would love some company and no one has suggested photographing what I do on location, so this would be a new experience. Let’s try to get together… this weekend.
[…] Says Gorman: Click for More Balls of the Ohio [O]f the many play things that wash up at the Falls of the Ohio, toy balls are the most numerous. Had I been photographing all I’ve come across over the six years I have been working this project, it would extend to hundreds of balls and images. It’s a little easier to understand why balls as compared to dolls (and I’ve found a lot of those too and is a potential subject of another page here). Simply put, most balls roll and float and are susceptible to getting thrown, kicked, hit, and washed into the river. […]
[…] on site by the artist and trash that Gorman has collected and classified into categories such as Balls of the Ohio, Kentucky Lucky Ducky Collection and Plastic Bottle Color Spectrum to name a few. It’s a […]