Barry X Ball's new sculptures are currently on view at Salon 94 Freemans. Veined and otherwise non-traditional marble choices, veiling, and other attenuations of the otherwise classical format feed the trope of decadence, signified in part at the second order via association with the excess of "advanced phases," the Baroque and late Rome. Here is one of Ball's 2007-08 heads followed by a late Roman black "lumacella" head, both defined by all-over vegetal facial adornment, a revolting feature that breaches the same taboo that created our cultural restriction on facial tattoo.