Light Dispelling Darkness - Edison, NJ
N 40° 32.452 W 074° 20.443
18T E 555829 N 4487999
Originally created as a WPA project in 1937, the art Deco terra cotta is by sculptor Waylande Gregory. The sculpture/fountain is located in Roosevelt Park, also a WPA project site. The structure recently underwent renovation.
Waymark Code: WM9M3D
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 09/01/2010
Views: 17
As director of the New Jersey WPA, Gregory began work on the monumental Light Dispelling Darkness which still stands in Roosevelt Park with nine other artists. There are 6 abstract sculptures which represent War, Famine, Pestilence, Death, Greed and Materialism. There are six concrete arches extending from the center fountain of this amazing sculpture. At the end of the arcs are six colorful, somewhat scary abstract sculptures emblematical of War, Famine, Pestilence, Death, Greed and Materialism. The mini sculptures are quite extraordinary and by all rights, each one could be an individual waymark. There are two nice interpretives on site, which tell the story.
The sculpture exhibits a heroic theme of combating evil through knowledge. It is a terracotta globe surrounding a shaft of relief figures of a scientist, artist, engineer, and muscular, un-shirted men apparently representing industrial workers or working-class people. On the outside are six figures representing conquest, war, famine, death, greed and materialism fleeing the forces of science and knowledge, an appropriate theme for Edison, NJ. Out of the six figures, 4 of them contain the horses of the Apocalypse.
These sculptures can be found near the entrance of Roosevelt Park. It is to the right of the Middlesex County war memorial. When I visited the fountain was not on, unfortunately. According to the interpretives present at the site the fountain was recently renovated thanks to a ton of dough raised for the project. I am also including a link to a video I made of this sculpture/fountain as well. Click HERE