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Dream to be illuminated on its 10th birthday

St Helens' award-winning Dream sculpture turns 10 years old this summer, and to celebrate this milestone the iconic public artwork will be illuminated on the night of its birthday.

Ambient lighting around the plinth and a spotlight in the top of the sculpture will be activated for an hour for the finale of the Decade of Dream events on Friday 31 May.

Spanish artist and creator of Dream, Jaume Plensa, will also visit St Helens as part of the celebration.

Jaume will speak at both Decade of Dream events on Friday 31 May, which begin with a ticketed event at Chester Lane Library at 5:45pm (book tickets online at www.culturalhubs.eventbrite.co.uk), before the main public celebrations get underway at the Dream sculpture from 7pm-10:15pm. Tickets are not required for this, just turn up with family and friends.

Chester Lane Library will host an exhibition of mining memorabilia, artworks, and a photo gallery of Dream and the Sutton Manor Colliery site, with snacks and drinks provided.

Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure and Libraries, with responsibility for events and culture, said:

"We're really excited about the upcoming Decade of Dream events, and especially so about Jaume Plensa visiting the borough.

"The former miners who worked on the project were keen that a sculpture be made that wasn't a literal homage to the colliery. They wanted something that would be for the whole community, something that would ignite imaginations and prompt thought and conversation. That's exactly what Dream does - what all public art should do. We're proud of Dream, and we can't wait to celebrate it with you later this month!"

Earlier this week a specialist team commissioned to clean the 20 metres (66ft) tall sculpture has started the work, which is expected to take up to two weeks.

Unveiled in spring 2009, Dream consists of an elongated white structure, weighing 500 tons, carved to resemble the head and neck of a young woman with her eyes closed in meditation, dreaming of a better future for St Helens. The structure is coated in white Spanish dolomite, as a contrast to the coal which used to be mined there.

Events at Dream feature a full programme of entertainment including:

• 7pm - Free yoga session with Julia Doctoryoga
• 7:45pm - MD dance (Britain's Got Talent)
• 8pm - Brian Salkeld reads the poem 'Memories' (as featured on C4 Three Minute Wonder)
• 8:05pm - Tom Loughlin (classical tenor vocalist)
• 8:30pm - Rick Ashcroft (Britain's Got Talent)
• 9pm - Multi-faith service and blessing
• 9:15pm - Illumination of Dream

 

 

Jaume Plensa to join Decade of Dream celebrations

St Helens Borough's award-winning Dream sculpture turns 10 years old this summer and, to celebrate this milestone, Spanish artist and creator of Dream Jaume Plensa will visit the sculpture as part of an evening of community-focused cultural events.

In 2007, working closely with a group of local ex-miners, Jaume was commissioned to create a new work on the landmark site of the former Sutton Manor Colliery, as part of the Big Art Project, a major national public art initiative linked to Channel 4.

Unveiled in spring 2009, Dream consists of an elongated white structure 20 metres (66ft) tall, weighing 500 tons, carved to resemble the head and neck of a young woman with her eyes closed in meditation, dreaming of a better future for St Helens. The structure is coated in white Spanish dolomite, as a contrast to the coal which used to be mined there.

Jaume will speak at both Decade of Dream events on Friday 31 May, which begins with a ticketed event at Chester Lane Library at 5:45pm (book tickets online at www.culturalhubs.eventbrite.co.uk), before the main public celebrations get underway at the Dream sculpture from 7pm-10:15pm. Tickets are not required for this, just turn up with family and friends.

Chester Lane Library will host an exhibition of mining memorabilia, artworks, and a photo gallery of Dream and the Sutton Manor Colliery site, with snacks and drinks provided.

Events at Dream feature a full programme of entertainment including:

• 7pm - Free Yoga session with Julie Doctoryoga
• 7:45pm - MD dance (Britain's Got Talent)
• 8pm - Brian Salkeld reads the poem 'Memories' (as featured on C4 Three Minute Wonder)
• 8:05pm - Tom Loughlin (classical tenor vocalist)
• 8:30pm - Rick Ashcroft (Britain's Got Talent)
• 9pm - Multi Faith service and blessing
• 9:15pm - Surprise finale

In the meantime, relive the Channel 4 television series about the inception and creation of Dream on www.vimeo.com by searching 'St Helens Dream'.

Dream headlines summer Cultural Hubs

Dream is the cover star of the latest Cultural Hubs programme, outlining the summer activities of St Helens' varied arts in libraries project.

 

Events to celebrate a Decade of Dream

St Helens' award-winning Dream sculpture turns 10 years old this summer, and to celebrate this milestone residents are invited to attend an evening of community-focused cultural events around the iconic public artwork.

Representing a young girl dreaming of a better future for her and St Helens, Dream was unveiled in 2009 as a tribute to the former colliery and the miners of St Helens.

Conceived by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, Dream was created through The Big Art Project, in partnership with Arts Council England, St Helens Council, Channel 4, and a cohort of former miners from the Sutton Manor Colliery site, where Dream stands.

Decade of Dream events will take place on Friday 31 May, and get underway at Chester Lane Library at 5:45pm, where there'll be an exhibition of mining memorabilia, artworks, and a photo gallery of Dream and the Sutton Manor Colliery site, with snacks and drinks provided.

There'll also be talks by and a Q&A session with the original major drivers of the Dream project, including former Sutton Manor miner and Dream advocate, Gary Conley.

Though the event is free to attend, residents must book their place as spaces are limited. Book tickets within any St Helens Library, or online at www.culturalhubs.eventbrite.co.uk.

The main Decade of Dream celebrations will then take place at the Dream sculpture, from 7pm to 10:15pm. No booking will be required for this, just turn up.

There'll be lots going on, including a free guided yoga session at the site with Julia Doctoryoga (bring your own yoga mats and clothing), performances by Britain's Got Talent contestants MD Dance Academy and vocalists Tom Loughlin and Rick Ashcroft, followed by a multi-faith service and blessing.

Local poet and former miner Brian Salkeld will recite his poem 'Memories', written at the closure of Sutton Manor Colliery, and originally read by Johnny Vegas for Channel 4.

The sculpture will also receive a thorough cleaning prior to the events.

In the meantime, relive the Channel 4 television series about the inception and creation of Dream on www.vimeo.com by searching 'St Helens Dream', and watch Gary reflect on the project by searching 'Gary Conley Dream'.

For more information about Dream, tours and the celebration events, contact Gary Conley by email via [email protected].