"Against the Dying of the Light"
- bronze (with limestone base)
- limited edition of 45 [new orders only, not in-stock]
- 30" h x 12" x 12" bronze figures
- with stone base: 56" x 14" x 13" (price reduced to $9,500 US for NO base)
- © 2001-2008 Kelly Borsheim
- ORDERS only (three sold, thus, #5 is next available edition number): price here is the total, but payments of one-third will be taken (down payment, after wax is approved, and final payment before shipping)
Against the Dying of the Light Art Sculpture:
Sometimes it feels as though we struggle against something larger than us. Sometimes it is ourselves who hold us back the most. Either way, there is a beauty in the triumph against obstacles.
I am inspired by our desires to achieve our dreams, to find our own unique light, even when it means we struggle against great odds to find that voice inside. Although the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was inspired to write "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" while his father was dying, I felt his line Rage, rage against the dying of the light. could be interpreted more broadly as our struggle for self. Scroll down this page to read his entire poem.
My sculpture "Against the Dying of the Light" is shown here in plastilina (clay). You will also see the armature (support structure) that includes the outside pole, connecting to the torso in the bum. Also, steel wires project from the fingertips of the male nude figure. These armature points will not be visible after the sculpture has been cast into bronze, because I will re-sculpt these areas after the wax is cast from the original mold.
I want this artwork to stand tall and intend to add a stone pillar under the bronze sculpture. [I carved the base you see in the images on this page.] As usual, a one-third deposit will hold your bronze for you. Thank you for your interest and support.
The Origin of Nude Male Art Sculpture:
July 28, 2001: On the first day of my arrival to the MARBLE/marble Symposium, I was given a work site and a stone to fit my 24-inch tall figure maquette. Pictured left is the work in plastilina on top of my marble piece. I rushed to put this idea together about a week before I left for Colorado. I was still trying to figure out the composition for the big hands, which is also why you do not see them here.
Contemporary Art Sculpture:
August 2001: Several days later, you now see the large hands on the maquette. Each night after I stopped the day's work on my marble, I would try to finish the clay maquette by sculpting my own hands (thickened up to be more manly). Although I did not get much marble carved on this work during the 8-day workshop (I spent probably the first 5 days getting over my apprehension with the diamond blades), I learned a tremendous amount more than expected at my first MARBLE/marble Symposium.
Both Chest Piece and Shield were derived from Against the Dying of the Light.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
By Dylan Thomas
(27 October 1914, Wales - 9 November 1953, New York)----------------------------------------------------
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.