THESE are first images of the stunning artwork that promises to become an iconic landmark for St Helens and the North West of England.
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11:50am Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Phil, St Helens on 1:36pm Thu 8 May 08
When all the St Helens ex-miners have passed to the Great Coalmine in the Sky, can we pull down all these monstrosities? Sheer arrogance and bad-taste to do this to St Helens people. If I carved a big head out of concrete, would Jaume Plensa want it in his backyard?
When all the St Helens ex-miners have passed to the Great Coalmine in the Sky, can we pull down all these monstrosities? Sheer arrogance and bad-taste to do this to St Helens people. If I carved a big head out of concrete, would Jaume Plensa want it in his backyard?
Posted by: Sarah, sutton on 1:45pm Thu 8 May 08
I can't believe these brainwashed ex miners have chosen that thing...to represent years of mining in Sutton Manor and St helens...what the hell as a giant squashed head got to do with the coal mines...something more traditional would have been appropriate in this circumstance...we are yet again going to be a laughing stock!!
I can't believe these brainwashed ex miners have chosen that thing...to represent years of mining in Sutton Manor and St helens...what the hell as a giant squashed head got to do with the coal mines...something more traditional would have been appropriate in this circumstance...we are yet again going to be a laughing stock!!
Posted by: P Athers on 2:36pm Thu 8 May 08
i'm reserving full judgement until it's up and in full display, my initial impression is one of surprise by it's blandness and lack of ambition...
i'm reserving full judgement until it's up and in full display, my initial impression is one of surprise by it's blandness and lack of ambition...
Posted by: Andrew, Sutton on 3:27pm Thu 8 May 08
I have seen it all now ! If this chap is 'internationally renowned, what on earth is he doing making big concrete heads in the middle of Sutton Manor, not an area known for it's cultural excellence !Was the Lowry full or something?
I have seen it all now ! If this chap is 'internationally renowned, what on earth is he doing making big concrete heads in the middle of Sutton Manor, not an area known for it's cultural excellence !Was the Lowry full or something?
Posted by: Colin, Sutton Leach on 4:18pm Thu 8 May 08
I know art is all about interpretation but my interpretation of this is "what a waste of money." The smell of bull about the colour and the name Dream is sad. Just tell the truth. The artist has done what he wanted, a squashed head, and tried to bluff his interpretation. I, and many others, would have preferred this money to have been spent on facilities for local youngsters to enjoy and get them off the streets. If the council wants people to appreciate "art" then spend the money wisely and teach young children to appreciate it and participate in it at a young age. This way they may grow up to appreciate and look after what is around them and maybe pass this on to their children. They may even teach and get their parents interested.
Lets look to the future and invest in our children instead of the past and what has gone in many towns, mining.
I know art is all about interpretation but my interpretation of this is "what a waste of money." The smell of bull about the colour and the name Dream is sad. Just tell the truth. The artist has done what he wanted, a squashed head, and tried to bluff his interpretation. I, and many others, would have preferred this money to have been spent on facilities for local youngsters to enjoy and get them off the streets. If the council wants people to appreciate "art" then spend the money wisely and teach young children to appreciate it and participate in it at a young age. This way they may grow up to appreciate and look after what is around them and maybe pass this on to their children. They may even teach and get their parents interested.
Lets look to the future and invest in our children instead of the past and what has gone in many towns, mining.
Posted by: Charlotte, Sutton Leach on 6:08pm Thu 8 May 08
I'm a 16 year old student from st helens and even I know that this 'art' is going to be a complete waste of time and money. Does the council seriously think that the sculpture will be still in it's exact state and form within a couple of months? With teenage culture getting worse by the month I wouldn't be suprised if it had obscene phrases written across that lovely woman's brow the day after it is erected.
Another awful idea, but honestly no suprises.
I'm a 16 year old student from st helens and even I know that this 'art' is going to be a complete waste of time and money. Does the council seriously think that the sculpture will be still in it's exact state and form within a couple of months? With teenage culture getting worse by the month I wouldn't be suprised if it had obscene phrases written across that lovely woman's brow the day after it is erected.
Another awful idea, but honestly no suprises.
Posted by: Sarah, Sutton on 7:34pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]Charlotte[/bold] wrote:
I'm a 16 year old student from st helens and even I know that this 'art' is going to be a complete waste of time and money. Does the council seriously think that the sculpture will be still in it's exact state and form within a couple of months? With teenage culture getting worse by the month I wouldn't be suprised if it had obscene phrases written across that lovely woman's brow the day after it is erected.
Another awful idea, but honestly no suprises.
[/quote] Well said...the troublemakers will have a field day with this...giant, white, head....no doubt she will be sporting a mustache after a week or so!
Charlotte wrote:
I'm a 16 year old student from st helens and even I know that this 'art' is going to be a complete waste of time and money. Does the council seriously think that the sculpture will be still in it's exact state and form within a couple of months? With teenage culture getting worse by the month I wouldn't be suprised if it had obscene phrases written across that lovely woman's brow the day after it is erected.
Another awful idea, but honestly no suprises.
Well said...the troublemakers will have a field day with this...giant, white, head....no doubt she will be sporting a mustache after a week or so!
Posted by: Sarah, St Helens on 10:24pm Thu 8 May 08
I had to check if it was April Fools day when I saw this story on the local news.
What sheer arrogance to assume the people of St Helens would like this monstrosity representing our long-gone coal mining industry.
A complete waste of money - but that's nothing new for this town!
Dream? More of a NIGHTMARE!
I had to check if it was April Fools day when I saw this story on the local news.
What sheer arrogance to assume the people of St Helens would like this monstrosity representing our long-gone coal mining industry.
A complete waste of money - but that's nothing new for this town!
Dream? More of a NIGHTMARE!
Posted by: Carol D, St Helens, St Helens on 11:56pm Thu 8 May 08
I'll just repeat what has been said - a complete waste of money. As said before the mines are dead and gone, spend money on the future. We need a new stadium for Saints spend the money on that.
I'll just repeat what has been said - a complete waste of money. As said before the mines are dead and gone, spend money on the future. We need a new stadium for Saints spend the money on that.
Posted by: stuart, haydock on 12:57am Fri 9 May 08
To be fair, I actually like the sculpture if it was around six inches tall and on my mantlepiece at home, but to asign it as a monument to our lost mining industry is frankly quite bizzare and an insult to the hardy men and women that sustained some of our communities for eons.
It reminds me of that classic sixties sci-fi film "The Time Machine" based on the novel by H.G.Wells in which a huge iconic head droned out an alarm to summon the innocent and naive underground to their deaths at the hands of the "Molrlocks".
Every statue and monument in our town pays homage to a poor and deprived past, no one seems to remember our great glass industry that has led the world in technology and development.
Surely we can do better to raise the profile and reputation of our town without a concrete head wich no doubt in time will have a painted moustache and "BEZZA WUZ HERE" spray painted across the plinth?
To be fair, I actually like the sculpture if it was around six inches tall and on my mantlepiece at home, but to asign it as a monument to our lost mining industry is frankly quite bizzare and an insult to the hardy men and women that sustained some of our communities for eons.
It reminds me of that classic sixties sci-fi film "The Time Machine" based on the novel by H.G.Wells in which a huge iconic head droned out an alarm to summon the innocent and naive underground to their deaths at the hands of the "Molrlocks".
Every statue and monument in our town pays homage to a poor and deprived past, no one seems to remember our great glass industry that has led the world in technology and development.
Surely we can do better to raise the profile and reputation of our town without a concrete head wich no doubt in time will have a painted moustache and "BEZZA WUZ HERE" spray painted across the plinth?
Posted by: William Ball, marbella spain on 7:18am Fri 9 May 08
What next
A Statue of Johney Vagus
The St Helens Moto is EX TERRA LUCUM meaning out of the earth comes light,
It should bo changed to EX TERRA NEW STADIUM
What next
A Statue of Johney Vagus
The St Helens Moto is EX TERRA LUCUM meaning out of the earth comes light,
It should bo changed to EX TERRA NEW STADIUM
Posted by: Ted Kirk, Sutton Leach on 4:07pm Fri 9 May 08
I was keeping an open mind about a gigantic sculpture in Sutton, but now I have something to comment on. An elongated face! What stunning originality! I see those every week at our pub quiz, where they are decently small and discardable. It will mar the site it stands on and make our entire landscape a lughing-stock. People may not realise that the actual work will be no heroic achievement of a superhuman sculptor. All the artist has to do is come up with a "concept" and a little model. The piece itself will be created and installed by wonderful craftsmen and heavy handlers, people of genuine skill and talent, wasted on such giant trivia. Just leave the pleasantly landscaped Sutton Manor site alone, and save the money.
I was keeping an open mind about a gigantic sculpture in Sutton, but now I have something to comment on. An elongated face! What stunning originality! I see those every week at our pub quiz, where they are decently small and discardable. It will mar the site it stands on and make our entire landscape a lughing-stock. People may not realise that the actual work will be no heroic achievement of a superhuman sculptor. All the artist has to do is come up with a "concept" and a little model. The piece itself will be created and installed by wonderful craftsmen and heavy handlers, people of genuine skill and talent, wasted on such giant trivia. Just leave the pleasantly landscaped Sutton Manor site alone, and save the money.
Posted by: Ted Kirk, Sutton Leach on 5:11pm Fri 9 May 08
(follow-up)
Incidentally, has anyone thought how this piece will look when one stands at or near the bottom of it and looks up? It will seem to have enormous jowls, little piggy eyese and a pea-sized brain. Appropriate or what?
(follow-up)
Incidentally, has anyone thought how this piece will look when one stands at or near the bottom of it and looks up? It will seem to have enormous jowls, little piggy eyese and a pea-sized brain. Appropriate or what?
Posted by: stephen tunstall, st helens on 6:45pm Fri 9 May 08
What a waste of money! something should have erected in honor of all the miners that lost there lives
What a waste of money! something should have erected in honor of all the miners that lost there lives
Posted by: pauly, st helens on 1:13am Sat 10 May 08
why dont you spend the money on creating jobs for the st helens people ,and why your at it why dont you put a baseball hat on the sculpture so people will really know theyve entered st helens
why dont you spend the money on creating jobs for the st helens people ,and why your at it why dont you put a baseball hat on the sculpture so people will really know theyve entered st helens
Posted by: Wendy, St Helens on 8:52am Sat 10 May 08
I am so disappointed with this design. I cannot see how as someone else pointed out how vague rhetoric about the colour and name capture the essence of the town. I know it is difficult to please everyone but here is an opportunity missed to come up with something stunning using glass and lighting. Both of which do reflect the positive things about our town 'Ex terra lucem' indeed.
I am so disappointed with this design. I cannot see how as someone else pointed out how vague rhetoric about the colour and name capture the essence of the town. I know it is difficult to please everyone but here is an opportunity missed to come up with something stunning using glass and lighting. Both of which do reflect the positive things about our town 'Ex terra lucem' indeed.
Posted by: Kate, Spain on 4:57am today
I'm out in Spain at the mo, returing home to Sunny St. Helens in six weeks tho! When people ask me about my town I say, Rugby League, Glass and Johnny Vegas, now I can say, oh yeah and we've got a massive statue of a squashed head!
I'm out in Spain at the mo, returing home to Sunny St. Helens in six weeks tho! When people ask me about my town I say, Rugby League, Glass and Johnny Vegas, now I can say, oh yeah and we've got a massive statue of a squashed head!
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