Just the Sort

After aluminum street signs serve their purpose, what happens to them? Boris Bally, a Providence, RI-based artist and proprietor of Bally Humanufactured LLC, transforms them into colorful furniture and art objects.
Since 1990, he’s salvaged tons of “decommissioned” signs and recycled them into artworks. In fact, some of his first creations came from stop signs he bought from Warhola Scrap Metal in Pittsburgh, a company run by Andy Warhol’s nephews.
Other than scrap dealers, Bally snags most traffic signs from various transportation, public works and signage departments, and sign companies. “I wish I could appeal to your readers,” Bally said.
The metalsmith purchases signs as scrap aluminum, and he often pays more than the current rate, especially for specialty signs with striking or unique images.
Though it seems that aluminum is rather un-yielding, Bally finds inspiration in transforming “trash.” Bally’s process, which he calls “humanufacturing,” begins by sorting through sign-scrap piles, looking for various thicknesses, color, images and finishes. After a forklift scoops up his picks into his truck, he returns to his studio, where he and assistants organize the cache. The larger pieces are cut into chair backs and seats, then the smaller pieces created from the first cuttings are assembled, sawed, sanded and sealed into legs, arms and seats.
The Velvet DaVinci Gallery in San Francisco is presenting Bally’s solo show, “design,” from May 1 to June 13. Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Stipe, among other celebrities, have purchased Bally’s works.
To find more information about Bally, email boris@borisbally.com, or visit www.borisbally.com