Dream: 10th anniversary celebrations in pictures

And it was an expression brought to life last night at the Decade of Dream celebrations. 

Pics: Dave Gillespie

Yesterday marked 10 years since the sculpture was placed at Sutton Manor Colliery and to celebrate artist Jaume Plensa came from Barcelona to light up Dream.

The event started at Chester Lane library where miners, instrumental in making Dream happen, joined artist Jaume and others to talk about how the “tenacity” of those former miners turned Dream into reality. 

This was followed by an emotional walk up to Dream led by the Union for the National Mineworkers and more than 200 people who marched up to the sculpture together.

Performances and singing were then provided by MD Productions, Tom Loughlin and Rick Ashcroft.

A poignant moment was when former miners from the borough came together on stage to listen to Brian Salkeld read two poems about mining and Dream.

Then, after a delay as we waited for darkness to fall, the giant sculpture was illuminated and Dream was bathed in light. 

Artist Jaume Plensa said: “The memories from my work with the people of St Helens was so beautiful that when I was invited to celebrate the 10th anniversary I immediately said yes.

“It was very moving actually, to get to speak to them again I think it was a terrific day.

“It was very important to verify that a piece can help create a community.

READ> Looking back: How the finishing touches were applied to Dream in 2009

“People in St Helens have a amazing sense of friendship and community, but this has I guess created a beacon for them to follow. 

“I really appreciated all of the words in the speeches and poems and I now realise that the peace has become a symbol and icon for them. 

“I love seeing the children here, a young boy during the talk in the library asked a question and that is the direction I want to follow.

“The place is more important to create a legacy and share a history for the next generation of kids and that’s why it was great to see them all around Dream today.

“When I designed the piece 10 years ago I designed it on a coin that the miners used to take into the mine and now today I saw it used as a stage that circle beneath dream has become a gathering place, a place where people can read poems and speak and dance and perform and everyone can enjoy.

“What is important is that people bring the content to my piece.

“It is not Dream that has created this sense of community, it is the community that is using Dream as a place to come together.

“When I put a piece in the public it is like a container and the people are filling the container with their own thoughts, dreams, ideas and wishes and today I saw that that is working very well.

“I am very proud to come back to St Helens and see how the community love the work also to see it lit up like that is just beautiful. 

“The energy from today’s celebration was wonderful.”