Relief Work @ Light Dispelling Darkness - Edison, NJ - Relief Art Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Light Dispelling Darkness” was created by Wayland Gregory and ten other sculptors in 1937. A central globe atop a concrete shaft is surrounded by figures in relief and supports six wings that project from the shaft and carry terra cotta depictions of the vices. “Light Dispelling Darkness” was completed during Gregory’s tenure as director of the New Jersey Federal Arts Project.

The 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 those vices. 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